Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
Reviewed for: FS2024 (native version)
Add-ons: FS Traffic, GSX Pro
DETAIL
Being my first NetDesign product, I didn’t know what to expect. The marketing pics and trailer looked quite nice but of course they’re carefully curated to show the best bits and omit the worst.
Algiers Int’l is a very long and thin airport, having two (surprisingly long) runways arranged like a pair of wide-open shears. Therefore my first glimpse of the airport didn’t reveal much (apart from a perimeter fence and a couple of guard towers) until I exited runway 09, about a third of the way down. Even then, the terminal was some distance away but I got a good look at the runway/taxiway textures, which are decidedly average by FS2024’s standards (in spite of the most recent update — I can imagine the ground here was pretty poor upon initial release). That’s not to say they’re bad — this review is based on the 2024-native version, which features the new embossed-effect ground markings. Airfield lighting is all default but I think that was to be expected in this area of the world.
The apron textures are more varied and the wear-and-tear looks to have been faithfully recreated, to include tyre-marks and reflective oil stains. There’s a fair bit of ramp clutter but it’s entirely default, with the exception of an SUV outside the VIP terminal, a few passenger buses at the domestic terminal and (strangely) a couple of BP fuel trucks in a landside compound. It doesn’t feel totally lifeless but a handful of custom pieces of Algerian GSE would certainly improve things.
The new terminal building (T4: one of four here) looks impressive and is the part of the scenery that’s received the most attention. It looks slightly sterile in SOME places but being only a few years old, that criticism perhaps isn’t warranted. It’s beautifully-crafted (especially the roof, which reminds me a lot of WFSS’ Beijing and Pilots’ Alicante) and where it exhibits weathering, it looks fantastic. All jetways are custom and VDGS is functional. It has a very basic interior, and while that’s a bit of a con in 2025, there’s just enough to give pulling up to the gate a kick of authenticity (you’ll see a few static people, and plenty of seating, but not a lot else). This terminal’s landside — and in fact all landside areas — are completely custom-modelled and boast plenty of custom assets, including a variety of North African date palms. Sadly, the vehicles are all Asobo models, and there could do with being more of them. The same goes for people, because there are just way too few for one of Africa’s busier airports.
The other terminals have received less attention and, apart from their rooftops, look quite featureless. The VIP terminal’s quality is better, being somewhere between T4 and the rest. However, as already mentioned, their respective landside areas are decent.
Both ATC towers (old and new) look good and the newer features possibly the best tower interior I’ve seen. It’s… ‘fully loaded’, let’s say. While the older has no internal development, it does have a working clock on its exterior.
Moving into the peripheral areas of the airfield, the level of detail remains good. Air Algerie’s extensive maintenance facilities are fully modelled (complete with Air Algerie/Tassili statics, plus two abandoned 737-200s that have been rotting away for years). That fence I mentioned in my second paragraph? It’s all-encompassing but it is a default Asobo model. The custom guard towers are dotted along it at regular intervals. The VOR station is also here but it does have a windsock sprouting out of it.
Night-lighting is a strength and there’s a very noticeable difference between the lighting types used airside and landside. The dev has thankfully made the effort to increase immersion by implementing these differences, presumably to reflect the real-world. Though the terminal interiors are very basic, they’re fairly well illuminated in darkness.
Finally, there are a few goodies included in downtown Algiers, which go some way towards explaining the relatively high price of this scenery. They’re very well crafted and come complete with full night-lighting, including blinking hazard lights. One of them is quite discreet from a pilot’s perspective but the other pair you’ll see often: one is a huge minaret (the tallest in the world, I believe, and Africa’s tallest structure) that’s unmissable when you’re anywhere near the airport, and the other is a sports stadium that’s easily visible when on finals for RWY09.
PERFORMANCE
While I’ve had no real problems, I have read reviews that claim the T4 model is affecting performance. I have noticed a few stutters when moving in its vicinity with the drone cam, however for me they’ve not translated into stutters during regular ops. The dev is very active on his social media channels and updates are regular (there having been one only last week). He’s stated that he’s looking into the perceived issue with T4.
Since DAAG isn’t an overly busy hub, far from any photogrammetry/TIN areas, I think any stuttering is going to be confined to lower-spec machines.
VERDICT
While NetDesign’s DAAG doesn’t stand out among 2025’s MSFS airports, for a location in Africa, it’s one of the best. The main international terminal is nicely modelled, and there are examples of superb weathering on display throughout the scenery. The working clock on the old tower is a nice touch but I’d like to see the many Algerian flags dotted across the airport brought to life with animation. It’s a tiny thing but should be the norm in 2025.
The complaints are only really minor but the biggest one is the entirely default GSE — custom Algerian equipment would add another level of immersion, and more abundant placement would make the airport feel that bit more alive. There are a handful of custom airside assets so the dev clearly knows how to create or at least import them. My only other real issue is the sterility of some of the buildings, which look a little odd when juxtaposed with the far superior work that is often only mere pixels away. The Asobo cars populating the car-parks I can live with, because they’re far removed from the view of a pilot sitting in his (or her) cockpit.
Major strengths for me include T4, all landside modelling, apron textures/markings and the night-lighting. Plus of course the beautiful POIs placed around the city.
Algiers is only a short hop from Spain and France (where the majority of flights to Europe depart to) — and it’s well connected to the rest of Africa and the Middle East — so there’s no trouble with real-world flight variety here. There may only be a single option if you want this airport in your sim but it’s a decent option, considering the reputations of other devs who create for this region. Sure, it’s not perfect and it doesn’t have the ‘wow!’ factor of Pyreegue or MK projects, but it’s a solid release in an area of the world we’re currently struggling to populate with quality airports. At the current sale price (about £14), it’s reasonable value, when you consider you’re getitng a bit of quality eye candy away from the airport.
Incidentally, NetDesign offer two other Algerian airports (the larger of which I’m tempted to buy), which are served directly from Algiers by Air Algerie/Tassili. Being in the south of the country, their desert settings sound quite attractive, and it looks as though NetDesign have faithfully captured the essence of their enviromnents.
IMAGES
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