(Ecofin Agency) - Air Algérie will purchase 40 planes between 2018 and 2025 to improve long-distance flights, its CEO, Mohamed Abdou Bouderbala, announced on September 17.

As part of the acquisition project, four planes will be received in 2018 and the rest will follow between 20202 and 2025.

Air Algérie thus plans to bring its fleet to 100 planes, by 2025, from 60 presently.

Cited by local news agency APS, Bouderbala also announced that there would be more lines to African cities by the end of 2016 or the begining of 2017, to make the Algiers airport a “continental hub”. Libreville (Gabon) and Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) are part of these destinations.

“We intend through these programs, to draw a bridge between Africa, Europe, America and other destinations,” he said.

Air Algérie currently serves 44 international destinations.