Algeria terminates air services agreement with UAE, bans Emirati flights from its airspace

ALGIERS, Feb. 07 (YPA) – The Algerian government announced on Saturday its official decision to terminate all Emirati airline operations to and from Algeria and to cancel the mutual Air Services Agreement signed between the two countries in 2013.

Algerian authorities have initiated the cancellation process of the agreement—originally signed in May 2013 and ratified by presidential decree in 2014—in accordance with Article 22 of the treaty.

These steps include officially notifying the UAE through diplomatic channels and informing the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to complete the required international procedures.

Following this termination, Emirati airlines will lose all privileges previously granted under the agreement. The decision results in a ban on Emirati aircraft landing at Algerian airports, a prohibition of Emirati flights from entering or crossing Algerian sovereign airspace, and the suspension of all passenger and cargo services, as well as commercial competition in the sector.

While Algerian authorities did not officially disclose the direct motives behind the move, observers link the decision to the ongoing “silent political crisis” between the two nations that has persisted for nearly five years. This development is viewed as a potential precursor to further diplomatic escalations regarding bilateral relations.

YPA