Pilots of “Air Algérie” Wage A Strike

Air Algerie pilots observed on Wednesday morning, a walkout at the Houari Boumedienne international airport of Algiers.

The protest caused “some disturbances” during the morning before the planes resumed their flights normally later on in this afternoon.

This transient strike movement was triggered off by the pilots’ autonomous air union of the national airline company. 

“It’s only a part of the pilots who observed a protest action following an incident which occurred in the early morning, involving a pilot and the director of flight operations,” knowledgeable sources told “Echorouk”.

This work stoppage which was badly received by hapless passengers came on the eve of the election of the representative committee (CP) of the national airline company. 

Some 132 delegates are due to get together to elect the 27 members of the CP, which has not been renewed since 2004. The conflicting parties also met with the Air Algerie Company CEO, according to the same sources.

Afterwards, Air Algerie announced the setting up of a program for the management of the flight personnel’s claims following a strike observed in the morning, said a statement from the national airline.

“Following the unannounced work stoppage launched this morning by the aircrew of the independent union of airline pilots (SPLA), a meeting was held between the union’s representatives and the CEO of Air Algerie, which resulted in the mapping out of a program for the management of all the points raised during the negotiations, ” the statement added.

According to the same source, pending socio-professional claims were addressed during this broad-based meeting.

The situation was unlocked at around 15h: 45mn, and the strike was suspended, said the Company, stating that untoward “disruptions” in the Air Algerie flight program were recorded, but no cancellations were reported. However, the Air Algerie flights went ahead throughout the day. “