Tunisair, Air Algérie and Royal Air Maroc compared for North African applicants: the home carrier option before or instead of the Gulf

Tunisair, and there is a thread on Air Algérie thinking about the Gulf and one on RAM recruitment, but nothing that compares the three Maghreb carriers for someone deciding between home and the Gulf. Here is the comparison from inside one of them.

Tunisair

The Tunisian national carrier, Tunis based, A320 family and a few A330s, a network heavy on France, Italy, Germany and the Middle East with some Africa. Recruits Tunisians, fluent French and Arabic required, English tested. Pay in dinars, modest, with allowances on the European routes that matter. A strong union tradition and a public sector feel. The fleet is older than the crew would like and the operation has had hard years. The crew are proud and the community is close.

Air Algérie

The Algerian national carrier, larger network including a real Africa component and long haul to Montreal and Beijing on the A330s and 737s. Recruits Algerians. Pay in dinars, similar picture to Tunisair, with the Montreal and long haul allowances as the prize. A more closed operation than RAM, less foreign exposure, and the crew who leave for the Gulf describe a bigger culture jump.

Royal Air Maroc

The largest of the three, the widest network, the newest fleet with the 787s, the Africa strength, the most recruitment activity, and the most Gulf carrier events on its doorstep. Pay in dirhams, comparable. The most open of the three to change and the one the Gulf recruiters respect most, from what the Moroccan crew say.

The common picture

All three are national carriers with the strengths (home, family, a proper contract, a proud culture, a Europe network on your doorstep) and the weaknesses (pay in a soft currency, slow promotion, fleet age, the pace of a public company). All three send a steady stream of crew to the Gulf after a few years, and all three are respected at the Gulf events as real flying experience.

The decision

For a 21 year old with hotel experience and strong English: the Gulf directly, if the family situation allows. For someone who wants to fly now, stay near family, and decide about the Gulf later: the home carrier, two or three years, then the Gulf events with hours. For someone who does not want the Gulf at all: the home carrier is a career, with the Montreal or Paris layovers as the reward, and there is nothing wrong with that.

What I did

Home carrier at 23, five years in, and I am still deciding about the Gulf every time the salary thread updates. The short flight home from Doha (the Tunis Doha thread) is what makes it possible. The family dinner on Sunday is what makes it hard.