Pilots protests at Algiers airport

Some 80 pilots on behalf of 400 protested Thursday at the airport of Algiers after CEO of state-owned Air Algerie said they stole food and wine.

• CEO Wahid Bouabdellah ordered to set up a scanner at the entrance of the operation centre at the airport to keep watch on pilots.
• “The decision is unjustifiable. The CEO insulted and humiliated the pilots by his remarks,” head of the pilots’ union Mohamed Hadi Chabi told Echorouk.
• He added that the protesting pilots asked the CEO to be present but he did not.
• “The protests will continue until next week. We are considered as Algeria’s ambassador aboard everyday. Because of that, we will stop representing the country.”
• The pilots were asking for an “official disclaimer and an apology before all the Algerian people and in the national newspapers.”
• Director of air operations Boualem Anand said the scanner was taken off last week and it was set up for one day only. “It was set up for general security and not for pilots only.”
• He also said Air Algerie’s CEO came on Thursday at around 6 a.m but he could not stay to meet the pilots. “He issued a statement on the decision to take off the scanner. He promised the pilots to meet them next time.”