AIR TRANSPORT

Tassili Airlines, Algerias second national carrier, is steadily growing its presence in the scheduled domestic market, as commercial director Kamel Mezghiche explains to Martin Rivers.
he Algiers-based carrier was established as a joint venture between Sonatrach, a stateowned oil company, and Air Algrie in 1997. It became wholly owned by Sonatrach in 2005. With its roots in the oil and gas industry which accounts for 30% of Algerias GDP the airline has traditionally focused on ferrying oil workers across the vast north African country. But, in March 2013, Tassili began deploying its fleet of 12 aircraft on scheduled domestic operations. Now we serve 14 destinations in Algeria, Mezghiche noted. Before we were only doing charter for the petrol and gas sector. So for us, this is something new. There are, of course, some issues which are challenging at the moment, but we are going in a good direction. The resurgent threat of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has wrought uncertainty across north Africa in recent years, taking the baton from the political upheaval of the Arab Spring. KKKKK In January 2013, the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas, on Algerias eastern border with Libya, was targeted by an Al Qaeda-linked suicide squad in the most high-profile terror attack to date. Sonatrach operates the facility, but the assailants singled out foreign nationals, killing 39. While such atrocities risk deterring western oil companies, the allure of petrodollars has, so far,

Tassili steps on the domestic gas

kept the sector afloat. Mezghiche insisted that Tassilis move into scheduled operations was incidental to the In Amenas attack. Our new philosophy is to complement [scheduled passenger] routes offered by Air Algrie, he explained. We have no intention of competing with them. There are about 13 airports in Algeria which are of international standards, and others are being modernised by the state. With its fleet of four Boeing 737-800s, four Bombardier Q400s and four Bombardier Q200s, the airlines domestic network stretches from the Mediterranean coastal city of Oran to the oasis city of Tamanrasset in the Sahara Desert. We are not excluding doing scheduled international flights in the future, Mezghiche said, responding to media reports about possible regional route launches. We will start doing studies soon. Of course, Africa is naturally an area of interest for us, and southern Europe and all countries in the Mediterranean. But I think it will probably be after 2014. He admitted that scheduled services are still in the nascent stages Tassili operates just 4.5% of Algerias scheduled domestic flights but predicted that the sector could account for one third of the carriers revenue in the future. In the meantime, charter flights remain the backbone of the business and new clients are constantly being sought. Mezghiche stressed that hydrocarbon companies are not the airlines only customers. Tour operators have also shown interest in Tassili during politically stable periods. Last summer, for example, a French travel agent chartered one of its 737-800s for regular flights from St Etienne to Bejaja, and from Grenoble to Jijel. There are many opportunities to develop charter flights, he affirmed. We have many enquiries from the market for these services. Sonatrach is our proprietor, but as a subsidiary we have independence to manage the company. The fleet, which also includes smaller turboprops and helicopters, is sufficient for now, Mezghiche added, downplaying talk of new orders. But at the Dubai Airshow, Air Algrie announced a long-awaited preliminary order for three A330s, enabling it to replace its ageing 767s. Further orders are expected, with the flagcarrier previously announcing a requirement for 16 units and promising to make Algiers a sixthfreedom hub. Tassilis contribution may be modest by comparison, but the two airlines are working hand-in-hand to ensure Algeria keeps pace with north Africas fast expanding aviation sector.

Tassili Airlines operates two Bombardier Q200 turboprops and four Q400s.

38

ALGERIA
Tassili Airlines has four Boeing 737-800s.

SOMMAIRE

Tassili Airlines se diversifie

Tassili Airlines, deuxime compagnie nationale de l'Algrie, renforce progressivement sa prsence sur le march intrieur du pays. African Aeropsace sest entretenu avec son directeur commercial, Kamel Mezghiche.
Tassili Airlines a t cre en 1997 suite Tassili Airlines possde une flotte un partenariat entre la compagnie de 12 avions (quatre Boeing 737- 800, ptrolire tatique Sonatrach et Air quatre Q200 et quatre Q400 de Algrie. Base Alger, elle est devenue Bombardier). Elle intgre galement la proprit exclusive de Sonatrach en des petits avions turbopropulseurs et 2005. La compagnie stait spcialise des hlicoptres. dans le transport du personnel Son rseau s'tend dOran la ville travaillant pour l'industrie ptrolire et de Tamanrasset. Kamel Mezghiche gazire. Ce secteur reprsente 30 % du voque aussi la mise en opration de PIB de l'Algrie. Depuis mars 2013 vols rgionaux et internationaux Tassili Airlines a commenc oprer rguliers l'avenir. des vols rguliers sur le march domestique. JJJJJ Nous desservons maintenant 14 destinations en Algrie , souligne Des tudes relatives sont en cours. Il Kamel Mezghiche. prcise que les ptroliers ne sont pas La menace d'Al-Qada au Maghreb uniquement les clients de la islamique et le printemps arabe ont compagnie. provoqu des incertitudes en Afrique Des voyagistes ont manifest un du Nord. Lattaque du site gazier de intrt pour Tassili Airlines. Un agent Tigantourine prs de Amenas a t de voyages franais a dj affrt un particulirement meurtrire pour Boeing 737- 800 de la compagnie pour Sonatrach qui exploite l'installation. des vols rguliers. Il existe de De telles atrocits risquent de nombreuses possibilits pour dissuader les entreprises ptrolires dvelopper les vols charters. trangres d'investir dans la rgion. La contribution de Tassili Airlines Notre stratgie est de complter les peut savrer modeste par rapport Air routes proposes par Air Algrie. Algrie mais les deux Il existe environ 13 aroports compagnies travaillent main qui fonctionnent selon des dans la main pour Notre normes internationales permettre lAlgrie stratgie est en Algrie. D'autres sont daccompagner la de complter les en cours de croissance du transport modernisation , arien en Afrique du routes proposes explique-t-il. Nord.

Lose the complexity. Lose the inadequacy. But never lose the opportunity to save a life.
For more than 20 years, Spectrum Aeromed has specialized in creating life support systems designed to enhance the abilities of your crew, while supporting the life of their patients. We offer basic and advanced systems, single or multiple-patient congurations, as well as customized interiors for both xed wing and rotor wing aircraft. Visit our website and select your specic aircraft type to see your equipment options.

par Air Algrie.

39