
Aviation competition heats up in the Maghreb as Tassili Airlines opens new French routes
In a growing contest for airspace dominance across the Maghreb, Algeria is making bold moves to challenge Morocco’s regional supremacy in aviation.
Tassili Airlines, a subsidiary of the Algerian state-owned energy giant Sonatrach, has unveiled three new direct routes linking Algeria to France, intensifying the rivalry over the skies of North Africa.
Announced ahead of the summer travel surge, the new connections will see flights departing from Oran, Béjaïa, and Algiers to Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports.
These routes, selected for their strategic value, aim to serve Algeria’s large diaspora in France while capitalizing on seasonal tourist flows.
This expansion marks a significant shift for Tassili Airlines, long considered a secondary player behind the country’s flagship carrier, Air Algérie.
With its backing from Sonatrach, the airline is now positioning itself as a formidable competitor with ambitions beyond domestic routes.
“This summer deployment isn’t just about filling seats,” industry observers note.
“It’s about building a sustainable presence in the international arena.”
While Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc has benefited from liberalized air agreements and established Casablanca as a major hub connecting Africa to Europe and beyond, Algeria is focusing on reliability and network decentralization.
By adding Béjaïa and Oran to its international departure points, Tassili Airlines avoids overconcentration in the capital and boosts regional accessibility.
The rivalry playing out in the skies mirrors a broader contest for geopolitical influence in the Mediterranean. Each route to France carries symbolic weight, reinforcing economic and cultural ties while serving as a soft-power instrument in Algeria’s foreign policy.
For Algerians abroad, these flights are not just logistical conveniences but expressions of national presence and accessibility.
As Maghreb countries reimagine their aviation strategies in the post-pandemic era, Algeria’s new flight paths signal a deliberate recalibration.
What was once a one-sided affair led by Morocco may now evolve into a dynamic air race reshaping travel, trade, and regional connectivity across the Mediterranean basin.