Air Algerie is set to begin direct flights between Algiers and Manchester, United Kingdom, from June 14, operating two weekly services through September 8 with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, AeroRoutes reported on February 26.
The route forms part of a wider expansion of the Algerian national carrier’s UK network. Air Algerie currently operates five weekly flights to London Heathrow and four weekly services to London Stansted, with total UK capacity set to reach 14 weekly flights across its summer 2026 schedule. “The Group is expanding services to Manchester, Heathrow, and Stansted, providing greater flexibility for travelers between the two countries,” the airline said.
The timing coincides with a marked rise in international interest in Algeria as a travel destination. Algeria welcomed over 3.5mn foreign tourists in 2024, a 10% increase compared to 2023. Saharan tourism has been particularly active, with over 22,700 international visitors travelling to the country’s southern regions. Algerian authorities have set a target of attracting 12mn foreign tourists annually by 2030.
The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) positioned Algeria as one of two “off-the-beaten-track” African destinations seeing a significant surge in interest from international travellers in its most recent annual industry trends report, alongside Angola. BBC Travel named Algeria one of its 20 best places to visit in 2026. The publication framed Algeria as a destination for travellers seeking to swap crowds for space, pointing to Roman-era sites such as Timgad and Djémila alongside the Sahara. Lonely Planet is also publishing a new edition of its Algeria guide in 2026, covering sites from the Casbah of Algiers to the Tassili N’Ajjer and the dunes of the Grand Erg.
The UK market is showing concrete signs of engagement. UK-based tour operator Jules Verne has listed Algeria as part of its 2026 small-group escorted tour programme, describing the country as offering “an in-depth journey” through its “layers of history and culture, from Mediterranean cities to Saharan oases.” Algeria “Highlights Discovery” tours are priced from GBP2,405 per person without flights, with departures beginning on November 7, 2026. Jules Verne describes Algeria as “once again slowly opening to tourism” and says the country will “undoubtedly become one of the ‘must visit’ destinations, such is the variety within the country.”