For decades, Airbus has run a successful widebody program through its variety of competitive aircraft offerings. The A330, A340, A350, and A380 have collectively seen success with airline customers worldwide, solidifying the European aerospace firm as a dominant player in the global aviation industry.
While industry titans like Delta, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Japan Airlines have embraced many of Airbus’ widebody offerings, other smaller carriers have also placed orders for long-haul jets. Among these less popular airlines is Air Algérie, which, in June 2023, placed an order for several Airbus A330neos and A350-1000s. However, a recent announcement revealed that the carrier has modified its order book.
Air Algérie ditches the A350-1000
As first reported by Aero Telegraph, Air Algerie
canceled its order for the Airbus A350
in December 2024. Despite the cancelation, the decision will eventually result in the carrier receiving more aircraft than initially anticipated.
Image: Airbus
After canceling the order for two Airbus A350-1000s, the airline requested three more Airbus A330-900
aircraft to compensate for the canceled aircraft. This means that the airline will receive eight of Airbus’ re-engined A330 aircraft in total.
These aircraft were ordered to fuel the airline’s growth as it continued to eye new markets to serve from Algeria, including London Gatwick and New York City. Additionally, it would support the carrier as it improves punctuality and revamps its customer experience to retain more passengers. The first of these new aircraft is expected in 2025.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
Beyond the Airbus order, Air Algérie is also waiting for narrowbody aircraft from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The airline has eight Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. These modern, more fuel-efficient aircraft will help the airline replace its existing fleet of Boeing 737s used for shorter routes.
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Air Algérie’s initial Airbus order
Air Algérie’s initial order for new Airbus jets was an exciting development for the Algerian flag carrier. According to Airbus, the airline ordered five A330-900neos and two A350-1000s. The latest technology employed by both of these jets makes it attractive for airlines looking to modernize their fleet, but both models serve distinctly different purposes.
Photo: Mike Fuchslocher I Shutterstock
The A330neo family is Airbus’ latest iteration of the A330, which has proved to be an incredibly popular and highly-utilized workhorse among airlines operating long-haul flights. It was initially designed to compete against Boeing’s 767, which has a similarly small capacity for a widebody plane but a more extended range capable of crossing oceans.
When Boeing unveiled the high-range, lower-capacity 787 Dreamliner, Airbus responded by re-engineering the A330 so it remained competitive. The result was the A330neo family. Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines power the updated aircraft, and the larger A330-900 model has a range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,334 kilometers).
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 family is the manufacturer’s newest clean-sheet design. The aircraft, which is often considered to compete against Boeing’s 777 family, is designed to carry a large number of passengers long distances. The aircraft family utilizes the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine – the most fuel-efficient widebody aircraft engine ever deployed. This allows it to boast a range of 8,700 NM (16,100 km).
The A350 program, despite Air Algérie’s order cancelation, is incredibly successful. The program has received over 1,000 orders from over 50 customers worldwide, and the aircraft has continued to become standard on many long-haul routes.
Air Algérie’s current fleet additions
Air Algérie has been facing headwinds regarding its fleet planning. According to Algerie Direct, parts of its fleet have encountered breakdowns, making it challenging to maintain the airline’s previous level of service. As the carrier waits for new deliveries from both Airbus and Boeing, it has resorted to chartering several aircraft to maintain its schedule.
Photo: Airbus
Eight new charter aircraft will temporarily join Air Algérie’s fleet, three of which have already been delivered. Meanwhile, a fourth aircraft, an Airbus widebody jet, is anticipated to arrive on January 15th, 2025. Two more aircraft will be received before February 2025, and the remaining two planes will arrive in June of this year.
