This Sunday, December 22, 2024, the new Minister of Transport, Said Sayoud, made an official visit to Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers. This trip, the first of its kind since he took office, mobilized the main managers of the airline sector in Algeria and marked a strong commitment to improve the services offered to travelers.
Accompanied by a large delegation, the minister was surrounded by key figures such as Mokhtar Said Mediouni, CEO of the Algiers Airport Services and Infrastructure Company, and Hamza Ben Hamouda, CEO of the national airline Air Algérie. Also present were the Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport, as well as representatives of the border and customs police. This visit highlighted the joint efforts necessary to optimize the performance of the airport, the country's main point of entry and exit.
Said Sayoud's tour focused on the West Terminal, a strategic space which has recently been expanded to better respond to the increase in air traffic. The minister carefully inspected each stage of the passenger journey: the check-in counters, boarding areas, arrival lounges and the VIP Lounge. The stated objective was clear: evaluate the conditions in which travelers transit, identify possible areas for improvement and guarantee a service that meets expectations.
Beyond this direct observation, the minister took the time to speak with airport staff, particularly those working on the front line, such as check-in agents, security teams and customs services. These interactions aimed to better understand the operational challenges they face on a daily basis. Although problems such as waiting times at controls and flight delays were often reported by passengers, no precise findings were officially communicated at the end of this visit.
This trip takes place in a context where the expectations of travelers, both national and foreign, are increasingly demanding. Algiers Airport, the country's showcase, has often been criticized for certain dysfunctions, ranging from the slowness of procedures to management sometimes considered ineffective. If Mr. Sayoud's visit did not result in specific announcements, it nevertheless demonstrates his desire to take stock of the existing challenges and lay the foundations for an expected modernization.
According to sources close to the ministry, this working visit is part of a more global approach aimed at improving the passenger experience, in particular by strengthening the fluidity of operations and ensuring the punctuality of flights. Follow-up meetings with the various players in the sector should be organized in the coming weeks to translate the observations of this day into a concrete action plan.
For Said Sayoud, the priority seems to be the establishment of better coordination between the different entities operating at the airport. By bringing together representatives of Air Algérie, police services and customs around a table, he showed that he was determined to encourage effective teamwork. This approach aims to guarantee smoother transit for passengers, while improving the competitiveness of the airport on a regional and international scale.
This trip by the Minister of Transport is also part of a desire to strengthen the image of Algiers Airport as a modern and efficient infrastructure. With the recent expansion of the West Terminal, the technical and logistical capacities already exist to absorb an increase in air traffic, but the services must still meet user expectations.
Also read:
Diaspora: this is what an F3 at €108,000 looks like in Algiers (Video)
3 passengers from France arrested at airport in Algeria
Import: Algeria applies new firm measures
