Algeria has officially initiated procedures to cancel the Air Services Agreement signed with the United Arab Emirates in 2013 and ratified in 2014, in a move described as a notable escalation in relations between the two countries.
According to the Algerian Press Service, the decision is based on Article 22 of the agreement, which requires notification through diplomatic channels and informing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the measures taken.
Under the move, UAE airlines will no longer be permitted to operate flights to and from Algeria, land at its airports, or even overfly Algerian airspace.
While no official explanation has been issued regarding the immediate reasons behind the decision, estimates suggest it comes amid an undeclared and protracted political rift between Algiers and Abu Dhabi that has persisted for nearly five years, with simmering tensions casting a shadow over bilateral relations.
The decision is expected to impact air traffic and trade exchange, in addition to affecting regional flight routes that transit Algerian airspace.
