New strike severely grounds Algeria air traffic

The strike caused the cancellation of the majority of the Algerian flag carrier’s flights from the capital Algiers, state television reported.

Air Algerie was forced to charter planes from French airline Aigle Azur to ensure some of its flights abroad, it added.

“This new strike has caused disruptions to all domestic and international flights” from the airport, the official APS news agency reported.

The airline announced on Thursday that it had taken “administrative measures” against seven people who had instigated an “illegal” strike on Monday for commercial cabin crew.

An Algerian court declared Monday’s strike illegal, prompting the cabin crew trade union SNPNCA to suspend industrial action.

But the next morning the union announced its intention to strike again.

The union is demanding the restoration of a pay rise schedule agreed in January last year but withdrawn the following month after a change of management.

The airline said it had been unable to increase salaries due to financial difficulties which left six planes grounded last month because the company could not afford spare parts.