flyWestaf becomes Algeria's first officially incorporated low-cost airline
In November 2021, the Algerian Minister of Transport, Aïssa Bekkaï, revealed that his services had given approval to nine future private air carriers. This is a quasi-revolution, since the country has not allowed the creation of private airlines since the disappearance of Khalifa Airways, in the wake of the bankruptcy of the Khalifa group in the mid-2000s.
flyWestaf is officially an Algerian company. Indeed, the future low-cost carrier has just been registered at the National Centre of the Trade Register (CNRC). "It is the first low-cost passenger and cargo airline in Algeria," it said in a statement published on 26 January 2022. flyWestaf plans to start operations by the end of the first half of the year, once it has obtained its air operator's certificate (AOC). For its launch fleet, it plans to operate 737 MAX aircraft for its passenger and cargo operations.
flyWestaf plans to start operations by the end of the first half of the year, once it has obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). For its launch fleet, it plans to operate 737 MAX aircraft for its passenger and cargo operations.
As indicated on its website, its first scheduled routes are expected to include domestic Algiers, Oran, Annaba, Constantine, Djanet, Tamanrasset, Timimoune, Adrar, Bechar and Ghardaïa. Outside the country, flyWestAf is targeting Alicante and Barcelona in Spain as well as Toulouse and Montpellier in France. For the high seasons, the future carrier also intends to position itself as a charter operator for the national and international market. In addition to shaking up a market monopolised by foreign companies, flyWestAf wants to be a socially responsible company that creates jobs. "Each passenger from Algeria travelling to Europe on foreign airlines represents jobs not created in Algeria and income not generated. flyWestAf proposes to reverse this ratio," it states in its business plan. It is worth noting that this project involves a diversity of profiles with a wealth of experience in the air transport sector. They include Richard Powell, co-founder and managing director; the Franco-Algerian Chakib Mohamed Ziani CCherif, airline pilot and co-founder; the Senegalese Ousmane Niang, a specialist in airport operations, and the American Hamish Davidson, an expert in airline restructuring and management. This team is also working on a similar project in The Gambia.
