Last updated: August 2026. Flight schedules and fares change regularly — check availability on the airlines’ own websites before booking.
Algeria is a country the size of a continent: Algiers is 1,900 km from Djanet and 1,400 km from Tamanrasset. For a European traveller who wants to visit the Deep South, two kinds of transport therefore have to be combined: first getting to Algeria from Europe, then taking a domestic flight to reach the Sahara. This guide explains it all.
Table of Contents
Part 1 — Getting to Algeria from Europe
The Airlines Serving Algeria from France (2026)
Algeria is one of the best-served destinations from France, driven by the size of the Algerian diaspora (estimated at more than 2 million people). In 2026, three airlines operate the bulk of the direct routes.
| Airline | Type | French airports | Algerian destinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Algérie | National carrier | Paris-Orly, CDG, Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Montpellier, Metz (13 airports) | Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba, Béjaïa, Tlemcen, Sétif, Biskra |
| Transavia | Low-cost | Paris-Orly, Lyon, Nantes, Montpellier, Marseille, Toulouse | Algiers, Annaba, Béjaïa, Biskra, Constantine, Oran, Sétif, Tlemcen |
| ASL Airlines | Charter/scheduled | Paris-CDG, Paris-Orly + 14 French cities (Mulhouse, Lille, Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Perpignan…) | Algiers, Béjaïa, Annaba, Oran, Tlemcen, Sétif, Constantine |
Air Algérie remains the dominant operator: the widest network, 13 French airports, and 23 kg of checked baggage included in most fares. An important point: it is also the airline that operates the domestic flights to the south.
Transavia (the low-cost subsidiary of Air France-KLM) is the budget option. Note: checked baggage costs extra (€25 to €50 per leg), which needs to be factored into the total price. A new Marseille-Oran route launched in April 2026.
ASL Airlines flies from many French regional cities — handy if you are not near Paris or Marseille.
Air France also offers direct flights to Algiers, Oran, Constantine and Annaba, with connections from the major French cities.
Fare Ranges from France (2026)
| Route | Low season | High season (Jul-Aug) |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Algiers | €150-250 return | €300-600 return |
| Paris → Oran | €180-280 return | €320-650 return |
| Paris → Constantine | €180-280 return | €320-600 return |
| Paris → Béjaïa | €180-260 return | €300-550 return |
| Paris → Annaba | €180-280 return | €300-600 return |
Prices shoot up in July and August — that is when the diaspora returns to Algeria. Book 3 to 4 months ahead for the high season. In low season, Transavia regularly offers Paris-Algiers tickets from €48-80 one way.
Booking tip: use Google Flights in “flexible dates” mode to see the price calendar. Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning if you can. Activate the Otla offer on airalgerie.dz for the summer promotions.
From Belgium, Switzerland and Canada
| Departure | Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Air Algérie, Brussels Airlines | Algiers, Oran, Constantine |
| Geneva / Zurich | Air Algérie, Swiss (with a connection) | Algiers, Oran |
| Montreal | Air Algérie (direct flight) | Algiers |
From the United Kingdom and Ireland
| Departure | Airlines | Algerian destination | Flight time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Stansted (STN) | Air Algérie | Algiers (ALG) | ~3h10 | 1 daily flight |
| Manchester (MAN) | Air Algérie | Algiers (ALG) | ~3h05 | 2 flights a week |
There is no direct flight from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham or Dublin. Algiers is served from the UK by Air Algérie out of Stansted, with a second, much thinner route from Manchester. If you are flying from anywhere else in the UK or from Ireland, you will be connecting — and the cheapest routings are usually via Paris (Air Algérie, Transavia or Air France), Rome (ITA Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Barcelona (Vueling).
Practical advice for UK travellers. Stansted is the only genuinely convenient option: one flight a day, every day, on a 3-hour hop. Because Air Algérie includes 23 kg of checked baggage, the total price is often lower than a low-cost connection once you add a suitcase. Book the Algiers-Djanet or Algiers-Tamanrasset domestic leg at the same time, and allow a night in Algiers between the two — a missed connection to the Sahara can cost you two days, because the southern flights do not operate daily. Route data checked in September 2026; schedules from the UK change from one season to the next, so confirm on airalgerie.dz before booking.
Which Airline Offers the Best Fares from France?
There is no universal answer — it all depends on your departure city, the time of year and what you include in the price. Transavia often shows the lowest headline fares (one-way tickets from €48 were seen in 2026), but checked baggage costs extra there (€25 to €50 per leg) — which narrows the gap with the other airlines as soon as you have a suitcase. Air Algérie is rarely the cheapest on the ticket alone, but its 23 kg of included baggage often makes it the best value on the total price, especially for a return trip with luggage. ASL Airlines is worth watching if you are leaving from a French regional city (Mulhouse, Lille, Clermont-Ferrand, Perpignan) where it is sometimes the only direct option. In practice: always compare on Google Flights with “flexible dates” switched on, add the cost of checked baggage, and book on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning — generally the days when fares are lowest.
Part 2 — The Points of Entry into Algeria
| Airport | Code | City | International connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houari Boumédiène | ALG | Algiers | The country’s main hub — the best connected |
| Ahmed Ben Bella | ORN | Oran | Second hub, well served from France |
| Mohamed Boudiaf | CZL | Constantine | Good service from France |
| Rabah Bitat | AAE | Annaba | Regular service from France |
| Soummam | BJA | Béjaïa | Flights from France, gateway to Kabylia |
| Zenata | TLM | Tlemcen | Service from France and Spain |
For most travellers, Algiers (ALG) is the natural point of entry: the most flights, the best connections and the best gateway to the domestic flights heading south.
Part 3 — Reaching the South: The Domestic Flights
This is the key to travelling in the Algerian interior. Without a domestic flight, the Deep South cannot be reached in any reasonable time — the Algiers-Tamanrasset road run is 1,900 km (roughly 20 to 22 hours of driving). Air Algérie operates a domestic network of 31 airports with scheduled flights to the Sahara.
Domestic Flights to the South from Algiers
| Destination | Code | Distance from Algiers | Flight time | Frequency | Indicative return fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamanrasset (Hoggar) | TMR | ~1,900 km | ~2h30 | Daily (6 days a week) | €150-250 |
| Djanet (Tadrart/Tassili) | DJG | ~1,700 km | ~2h15 | 3-4 times a week | €150-250 |
| Timimoun (Gourara) | TMX | ~1,200 km | ~1h45 | Several times a week | €120-200 |
| Adrar (Touat) | AZR | ~1,400 km | ~2h | Daily (6 days a week) | €130-200 |
| Béchar (Saoura) | CBH | ~1,000 km | ~1h30 | Several times a week | €100-180 |
| Ghardaïa (M’Zab) | GHA | ~600 km | ~1h | Several times a week | €80-150 |
| El Oued | ELU | ~650 km | ~1h25 | Several times a week | €80-150 |
| Ouargla | OGX | ~800 km | ~1h20 | Several times a week | €90-160 |
| In Salah | INZ | ~1,300 km | ~2h | A few times a week | €120-200 |
| Tindouf | TIN | ~1,700 km | ~2h20 | A few times a week | €130-200 |
Fares are given in euros at the official exchange rate. In dinars, reckon on roughly 15,000 to 35,000 DA depending on the destination and the season. Book early: flights to the south, Djanet and Tamanrasset in particular, sell out weeks in advance in the high tourist season (November-March).
Tassili Airlines — The Alternative on Certain Routes
Tassili Airlines is the subsidiary airline of the Sonatrach group (oil), operating mainly on routes to the oil-producing areas (Hassi Messaoud, In Amenas, Illizi). It also serves a few tourist destinations and complements Air Algérie’s offering on certain routes.
How to Book the Domestic Flights
| Method | Advantage | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| airalgerie.dz (official website) | Reliable source, all routes | The interface can be slow |
| Google Flights | Quick comparison | Does not always cover Algerian domestic flights |
| A local travel agency | Support, problem-solving | Commission |
| Through your tour operator | All-inclusive, stress-free | Less flexible |
If you are travelling as part of an organised tour, your local agency generally includes the domestic flights in the package — the simplest solution for the Deep South.
Practical Tips
- Book the domestic flights at the same time as the international one: seats to Djanet and Tamanrasset go quickly, especially between November and March.
- Leave a margin between the international and the domestic flight: if your flight into Algiers is delayed, you do not want to miss your connection south. Allow at least one night in Algiers between the two.
- Baggage: Air Algérie includes 23 kg of checked baggage on domestic routes. For the Sahara, your local agency can sometimes lend or rent camping equipment on site — check before packing too much.
- Cancellations and delays: domestic flights to the Saharan destinations can be delayed or cancelled without much notice — particularly in summer (sandstorms) or in poor weather. Keep some slack in your schedule.
- Bank cards do not work for booking on airalgerie.dz with certain foreign cards — if you run into trouble, go through an agency or an international booking site.
FAQ — Flights to and Within Algeria
Which airline should you take to Algeria from France?
Air Algérie offers the widest network (13 French airports, baggage included). Transavia is the low-cost option from Paris, Lyon and Marseille. ASL Airlines serves many French regional cities.
Can you reach the Algerian Sahara by car from Algiers?
Technically yes, but the distance is immense: Algiers-Tamanrasset is around 1,900 km (20 to 22 hours of driving). For the Deep South, the domestic flight is the only reasonable option. For the oases of the northern Sahara (Timimoun, Taghit, Ghardaïa), driving is feasible — roughly 6 to 8 hours behind the wheel.
How much does a domestic flight in Algeria cost?
Between €80 and €250 return depending on the destination and the season (at the official rate). In dinars, reckon on 15,000 to 35,000 DA. Algiers-Tamanrasset and Algiers-Djanet are at the top of the range.
Do you have to go via Algiers to reach the south?
Almost always. Virtually all domestic flights to the Sahara leave from Algiers (ALG). A few routes exist from Oran or Constantine to certain southern destinations, but they are less frequent.
Where do you book domestic flights in Algeria?
On airalgerie.dz (the official website), via Google Flights, or through your local travel agency. If you are travelling on an organised tour, the domestic flights are generally included in the package.
Are there direct flights from France to the Algerian Sahara?
No. There is no direct France-Djanet or France-Tamanrasset flight. You have to transit through Algiers (or Oran) and take an Air Algérie domestic flight.
