Air Canada, in a surprising move, has decided to axe its non-stop service to Algiers, Algeria, the airline’s longest route to Africa by distance. The link exists due to a large Francophone market between Algeria, France and Quebec. While Air Canada will no longer operate the route, Air Algérie will maintain its Montreal service.

For Star Alliance carrier Air Canada, it has served the Algeria market since 2017, operating a seasonal summer service across the Northern Hemisphere summer season. This year, the seasonal service was expected to take off from June 1, but the airline has made an abrupt decision to cancel the route entirely for this season.

No More Seasonal Service From Montreal To Algiers With Air Canada

Credit: Air Canada

This year, the airline was expecting to operate the route four times weekly on its Airbus A330-300 aircraft. All flights are now removed from the schedule, which was expected to operate until September 3. Air Canada has stated that the decision to axe the route was influenced by continuous monitoring and reviewing of the carrier’s network. Due to the Iran conflict and the increase in fuel prices, this means some routes are no longer economically feasible.

Credit: GCMap

Airlines around the world have been making schedule adjustments, which can see frequency reductions in response to the Iran crisis, which has seen the cost of jet fuel more than double. While Air Canada, for now, has axed its Algiers route, the airline is still considering relaunching this for the 2027 summer season. The airline was expected to operate the route according to the following schedule:

Around 70,000 People Of Algerian Descent Reside In Montreal

Credit: Air Algérie

This unique route between Montréal–Trudeau International Airport(YUL) and Algiers International Airport (ALG) has been influenced by a large Algerian diaspora in Quebec; between 60,000 and 70,000 people of Algerian descent are estimated to reside in Montreal, making it one of the largest North African communities in North America. This has been driven by political instability in Northern Africa in the early 1990s, and the shared French language.

While Air Canada will be missed this summer between Montreal and Algiers, Air Algérie, the flag carrier of Algeria, will retain its year-round service on the city pair. Air Algérie started flying to Montreal in 2007. Throughout the airline’s history on the route, it has periodically increased its frequencies and up-scaled aircraft from the Airbus A330-200 to the A330-900. Currently, the airline operates the route daily to the following schedule:

Algiers International Airport, formally known as Houari Boumediene International Airport, is located around 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Algiers and is the hub of Air Algérie. From Algiers, Air Algerie operates a robust network of domestic and international services, and the airline is 100% owned by the local government.

Credit: GCMap

Late last year, Air Algérie received its first Airbus A330-900. It now operates four of these aircraft, and is deployed on its route to Montreal and other long-haul destinations. Overall, the airline has a fleet of 57 aircraft, which include the Airbus A320-200, A330-200, A330-900, ATR 72, Boeing 737-600, 737-700, and 737-800 as per data from ch-aviation.

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Air Canada Is Left With Just One African Route

Credit: Air Canada

Following the suspension of services to Algiers, Air Canada is left with just one African route, that of Montreal to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). The city pair is served multiple times a week on board the Airbus A330-300. Again, this route is fueled by the large Moroccan diaspora located in the greater Montreal area.

Credit: GCMap

Air Canada also faces direct competition on the route, in the presence of Royal Air Maroc, which also serves the city pair with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Additionally, Air Transat, a leisure-focused carrier based out of Montreal, also operates a non-stop link from Montreal to Marrakesh, which is served year-round with the Airbus A321LR.