Emirates responds to Algeria’s radical decision — a definitive rupture?

It is the culmination of months of tension, amid a string of blows and alleged destabilisation manoeuvres in a no-holds-barred standoff — with Abu Dhabi singled out in the accusations. Algeria has ultimately decided to scrap the air-links agreement. The United Arab Emirates has now responded…

Airline Emirates has officially clarified the trajectory of its operations in Algeria. The UAE carrier has communicated the date of its last flight — in 2027 — while stressing that all services will be maintained until then. In a statement, Emirates assured customers that all flights to and from Algeria “are operating according to the scheduled timetable”.

Ranked as the world’s third-best airline, the carrier is seeking to ease concerns among travellers who have already paid for tickets departing in the coming weeks and months. “Services are not affected at the moment,” it said, insisting that travel will proceed as normally as possible until flights are fully halted.

“We can also confirm that, for the time being, our last scheduled flight, EK757, will depart Algiers on 3 February 2027,” the Emirati company said. From that date, the direct link between Abu Dhabi and Algiers will cease to exist. But in such matters, it is never possible to speak of a definitive break…

By way of example, Algeria and Niger severed all ties in 2023–2024, before business resumed in 2025, with dramatic developments. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune even ordered the swift return of his ambassador to Niamey. Relations with France, too, have restarted after months of extreme tension. As such, Algerian–Emirati relations cannot be written off.

Emirates apologised to customers for the disruption the decision may cause and urged those with travel plans beyond that date to “consider alternative travel arrangements”. Finally, the airline said it would provide regular updates to keep passengers and employees informed “should circumstances change”.