It expects 7 routes: Bordeaux - Algiers; Lyon - Setif; and Marseille to Bejaia, Constantine, Oran, Setif, and Tlemcen. And they’re short: an average of just 925 kilometres.
France to Algeria could be heaven for an LCC, with a market that’s large even before stimulation. And due to coronavirus and closed borders, capacity is down this year by 1.7 million over its peak.
It's also dominated by network carriers – with an 84% share this year.
Unlike Morocco, which had 4.2 million LCC seats to/from France pre-coronavirus, bilaterals are a problem for Algeria.
All 7 routes were previously operated by Aigle Azur, with all but one served until the carrier ended in 2019. Air Algerie is now the sole operator on all seven – so the gap Volotea sees.
Aigle Azur was the second-largest carrier between France and Algeria with up to a 40% share and two million seats.
Since Aigle Azur’s end, Air France has grown strongly. Its capacity grew by 57% in 2021 versus 2019, while Transavia France has added nearly half-a-million seats including from nine new routes (mainly from Orly).
Still, it’s dominated by Air Algerie, whose share has risen to almost seven in ten seats.
It would be very ripe for stimulating if it were more open.