Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG), also known as Algiers Airport, is the primary international gateway to Algeria and its capital, Algiers. Serving over 80 destinations with 26 airlines, it stands as the largest airport in the country.
The airport is located 16 km southeast of Algiers in the municipality of Dar El Beïda.
In 2024, ALG served nearly 10 million passengers, ranking among the top 10 busiest airports in Africa. The airport is experiencing considerable ongoing growth, and the government plans to push it to reach 20 million yearly travelers served by 2027.
Major Airlines - Air Algérie, Tassili Airlines
The airport is a hub for Air Algérie, the country’s flag carrier. It alone accounts for over half of all flights at the airport and a considerable portion of all routes.
Tassili Airlines, a state-owned domestic airline, also uses ALG as a hub to operate many passenger flights within Algeria.
Several French airlines provide connectivity between L'Hexagone and its former African colony. These are Air France, ASL Airlines France, and Transavia. They fly to most of France’s big cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris–Orly, Toulon, and Toulouse.
Other major carriers include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Saudia.
These airlines connect Algiers to key cities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Check a full list of airlines serving ALG here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of ALG
Houari Boumediene Airport has three terminals:
- Terminal 1: The primary domestic terminal. It features 14 gates and two halls:
Hall 1 for Middle East and Gulf airlines.
Hall 2 for domestic flights.
Terminal 2: Handles charter and pilgrimage flights, offering 20 check-in desks and 7 gates.
Terminal 4: The newest terminal, opened in 2019, serves international flights. It has 84 check-in counters, 21 boarding gates, and the capacity to accommodate Airbus A380 aircraft.
You may notice that Terminal 3 is missing - it has been decommissioned and the building will be (has been) demolished to make way for a new terminal.
The terminals are their separate buildings and are not connected airside. However, they are close enough to walk between in a matter of just a few minutes.
Check out which destinations are served by direct flights from ALG.
Connecting Flights, Transit, and Visa Requirements
Algiers Airport is easy to navigate, and the terminals are close to each other, so transiting is relatively simple.
If you arrive by an international flight and proceed to a domestic one, you need to clear Immigration and Customs at ALG. You will also likely have to change terminals (from T3 to T1).
The opposite (domestic to international) is pretty much the same, but in reverse.
For international to international connections, you may remain within the International Transit Area of Terminal 4 for up to 24 hours without a visa. You are not allowed to leave this zone unless you are from a visa-exempt nationality, possess a visa, or for another reason don’t require one.
If your transit is longer, between 1 and 7 days, you may opt to get a transit visa from one of the Algerian missions abroad. This will allow you to leave the airport and explore the city.
Wi-Fi at Algiers Airport
There is no free Wi-Fi at Algiers Airport. Nonetheless, public Wi-Fi exists, but it’s only available for a fee.
Vouchers can be purchased from on-site convenience shops and coffee shops. Prices are approximately DZD 250 ($1.9) for 30 minutes or DZD 420 ($3.2) for 60 minutes.
Certain dining establishments may have a free network and only require that you buy something beforehand. Lounges at the airport also normally offer complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Dining Options at ALG
Dining options within the airport are slim. They include cafes and snack bars, both local and international, but options are few and certainly won’t “wow” you with either quality or choices.
Moreover, most of the places are located before Security (landside), so if you’re stuck within the transit area of Terminal 4 (the international one), your only real choices are Sky Shop and Caffe Lindo.
If you arrive for an international flight, it’s smarter to eat something before you cross Security. Options include Segafredo, Sky Cafe, Daily Break, SaharaTea, Intenso, and Timgad.
The Domestic Terminal (T1) houses these in its Public Hall:
Tea Room
ElKahwa
Tutti Frutti
FaceBouffe
Near the airport, you have a lot more choices for different and higher-quality food. You can explore restaurants such as Havana, Capricci, Taste of India, Mim Restaurant, Casbah Istanbul, Rahet El Bal, JW's Steak House, and El Marsa.
Lounges at Algiers Airport
Houari Boumediene Airport offers a lounge in each terminal and hall of the airport:
Air Algérie VIP Lounge: Located in Terminal 1, Hall 2, near Gate 21. It provides a quiet environment with seating, food and drinks, and complimentary Wi-Fi. It’s open 24/7 and is available to business class passengers of Air Algérie.
Salon SGSIA Première Classe, Terminal 1, Hall 2: Welcomes all passengers, regardless of airline, for a fee.
Salon SGSIA Première Classe, Terminal 4, Hall 2: The equivalent SGSIA lounge but in the international terminal also welcomes all passengers for a fee, but those flying premium with certain airlines that have an agreement with the lounge may enjoy complimentary access.
Transportation options at Houari Boumediene Airport
Algiers Airport offers various transport options that will get you to the city center in no time.
Since 2019, ALG has had its own railway station. There, you can catch a train operated by the national railway SNTF, which gets to Agha station in downtown Algiers in about 20 minutes (it also stops at El Harrach station on the way). The frequency of these trains is every 30 minutes, and the adults’ ticket costs 80 DZD (~0.6 USD).
Alternative public transport is in the form of buses. Three lines serve the airport:
Line 39: Terminates at Maurice Audin Square.
Line 100: Terminates at Place du 8 mai 1945 (Place des Martyrs)
Line 178: Terminates at the Intercity Bus Station.
Journey time by road is approximately 30 minutes, traffic permitting. Buy a ticket from the driver - a one-way ticket costs between 20 and 45 DZD (~0.15 to 0.35 USD).
Works are ongoing on an extension of the Algiers Metro to Houari Boumediene Airport. The planned completion date is in the second half of 2026.
Taxis are another option. They are available 24/7 in front of both terminals. Prices vary by distance and in direction - trips from the airport are about 50% more expensive due to surcharges. As a ballpark, the average fare to downtown Algiers is 1200 DZD (~9 USD) while the reverse journey to the airport costs around 800 DZD (~6 USD).
Lastly, a few car rental agencies, such as Hertz and Rapide Car, operate at the airport.
Parking at ALG
Houari Boumediene Airport offers one parking lot in front of each terminal:
Parking P1: Located in front of Terminal 4 (International) and has 2000 spaces, all for short-term parking.
Parking P2: Located in front of Terminal 1 (Domestic), it has 900 short-term parking spaces and 300 long-term ones.
Parking P3: Located in front of Terminal 2 (Charter and Pilgrimage) and has 300 short-term parking spaces.
The parking fees are standardized across the garages:
The first 30 minutes are free of charge.
Up to 1 hour: 75 DZD.
Up to 3 hours: 180 DZD.
75 DZD for each hour thereafter.
Daily maximum: 1200 DZD.
Hotels near Houari Boumediene Airport
Within the airport grounds, you will find the Hyatt Regency Algiers Airport: a 4-star luxury hotel with much better dining options than at the airport, impressively furnished rooms, an amazing breakfast buffet, and a walking bridge to the terminals. If your budget allows it, you don’t need to look further for another airport hotel.
Nonetheless, if you want to explore more options, there are various hotels within 3 kilometers of the airport, many of which offer complimentary shuttles. These include ibis Alger Aéroport (a more budget-friendly option) and the Casablanca Hotel.
Algiers, Algeria
