Domestic Airlines () formerly Tassili Airlines, is an Algerian passenger airline based in Algiers. Following a strategic restructuring in 2025, it operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Algérie, the flag carrier of Algeria.

Originally founded in 1998 to serve the Algerian oil industry, operating charter and shuttle services domestically and internationally. The airline eventually transitioned to a scheduled carrier. Following its acquisition by Air Algérie in June 2025, it was rebranded as Domestic Airlines to serve as the group's regional and domestic specialist arm.

History

Tassili Airlines was established on 4 March 1998, as a joint venture between Air Algérie (49%) and the state oil company Sonatrach (51%). Commercial services were launched on 8 April 1999, with a flight from Hassi Messaoud to Algiers. In April 2005, Air Algérie sold 25% of its shares in the airline, Sonatrach thus becoming the majority shareholder.

Tassili Airlines became a member of AFRAA in 2014,

On 3 July 2025, Air Algérie unveiled the new visual identity of the airline, along with announcing that it would be renamed Domestic Airlines. Its primary focus would be shifting to domestic commercial routes to alleviate pressure on the mainline Air Algérie fleet. Domestic Airlines conducted its inaugural flight on 22 August 2025, followed by the full commencement of scheduled commercial services on 25 August 2025.

Corporate affairs

Ownership

Prior to 19 June 2025, Sonatrach held a 76% stake in the airline and the remaining 24% was held by Air Algérie.

Since August 2025, Domestic Airlines has functioned as the regional division of Air Algérie. While it maintains its own air operator's certificate (AOC), its corporate strategy is fully integrated with the parent company's network.

The annual accounts of the state-owned Tassili Airlines do not seem to have been published. A few recently available figures (largely from AFRAA reports) are shown below (for years ending 31 December):

thumb|right|A Tassili Airlines [[Boeing 737-800, pictured in 2018.]]

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"

|-

!

! 2016

! 2017

! 2018

! 2019

! 2020

|-

| Turnover

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

! align=center|

|-

| Net profit

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

! align=center|

|-

| Number of employees (at year end)

| align=center|1,338

| align=center|1,403

| align=center|1,477

| align=center|

! align=center|

|-

| Number of passengers (m)

| align=center|0.2

| align=center|0.8

| align=center|1.8

| align=center|

! align=center|

|-

| Passenger load factor (%)

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|58

| align=center|

! align=center|

|-

| Number of aircraft (at year end)

| align=center|12

| align=center|12

| align=center|15

| align=center|15

! align=center|15

|-

| <small>Notes/sources</small>

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|<br />

|-

| colspan="13" style="text-align:left;" |

|}

Destinations

As of January 2026, Domestic Airlines offers scheduled flights to the following destinations:

;Algeria

  • Adrar - Touat-Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport
  • Algiers - Houari Boumedienne Airport (base)
  • Annaba - Rabah Bitat Airport
  • Béchar - Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi Airport
  • Bordj Badji Mokhtar - Bordj Badji Mokhtar Airport
  • Constantine - Mohamed Boudiaf International Airport
  • Djanet - Djanet Inedbirene Airport
  • El Golea - El Golea Airport
  • El Oued - Guemar Airport
  • Hassi Messaoud - Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport
  • Illizi - Takhamalt Airport
  • In Amenas - In Amenas Airport
  • In Salah - In Salah Airport
  • Oran - Ahmed Ben Bella Airport
  • Ouargla - Ain Beida Airport
  • Tamanrasset - Tamanrasset Airport
  • Tiaret - Abdelhafid Boussouf Bou Chekif Airport
  • Touggourt - Sidi Mahdi Airport
  • Timimoun - Timimoun Airport
  • Tindouf - Tindouf Airport

Fleet

thumb|right|A Tassili Airlines [[De Havilland Canada Dash 8|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 in Algiers.]]

, Domestic Airlines operates the following aircraft:

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Domestic Airlines fleet

|-

!Aircraft

!In service

!Orders

!Passengers

!Notes

|-

|Boeing 737-800

!7

!&mdash;

!155

|

|-

|Bombardier Dash 8-Q200

!4

!&mdash;

!37

|

|-

|Bombardier Dash 8-Q400

!4

!&mdash;

!74

|

|-

!Total

!15

!&mdash;

!colspan="2"|

|}

Accidents and incidents

  • On 28 January 2004, at around 21:00 local time, a Tassili Airlines Beechcraft 1900 (registered 7T-VIN) crashed 10 kilometres short of Ghardaïa Airport where it had been scheduled to land completing a chartered flight from Hassi R'Mel Airport. The pilot Mebarki Mohamed had to abort the landing approach because a preceding aircraft had not cleared the runway in time. During maneuvering for reaching the approach path again, the aircraft hit the ground with its right wing, which was subsequently torn off. Of the two passengers and three crew members on board, all but the co-pilot survived the crash.

See also

  • List of airlines of Algeria
  • Transport in Algeria

References

  • Official website (Archive)