A major airline is set to move all of its London operations to London Stansted Airport after announcing the suspension of long-running services to London Heathrow Airport from the end of March.
The Algerian flag carrier Air Algérie has served Heathrow since 1994, providing a direct link between the UK capital and Houari Boumediene Airport.
Flights are scheduled to cease on March 28, marking the end of more than three decades at Britain’s busiest airport.
The decision has been attributed to operational reasons, though no detailed explanation has been given.
Following the withdrawal, Stansted will become the airline’s sole London gateway.
Air Algérie currently operates four weekly flights between Algiers and Stansted using Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft.
The airport, located northeast of central London, has increasingly attracted airlines seeking lower operating costs and available capacity compared with Heathrow.
Passengers already booked on Heathrow services are expected to be automatically rebooked onto Stansted flights.
Customers who prefer not to travel from the alternative airport will be able to request refunds in line with the airline’s policies.
Air Algérie only began regular scheduled services to Stansted in April last year, but demand on the route has grown steadily, driven largely by travel between the UK and Algeria for family visits, business and tourism.
The carrier now plans to expand capacity during the summer season, with frequencies rising to between one and two flights per day.
To support this increase, the airline intends to deploy a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including the larger Airbus A330-200.
The introduction of the wide-body jet would significantly boost seat capacity compared with the Boeing 737 aircraft currently used on the route.
The shift to Stansted also forms part of Air Algérie’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the UK.
Fleet modernisation is expected to underpin this growth.
Air Algérie operates a fleet of around 60 aircraft and has several new deliveries on order, including Airbus A330neo long-haul jets, Boeing 737 MAX 9 narrow-bodies and ATR 72-600 turboprops for domestic and regional operations.
The airline is also evaluating potential new routes beyond London, with Manchester frequently cited as a possible destination. Birmingham is also under consideration as the carrier looks to serve regional demand from the Algerian diaspora and expand leisure travel links.
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