TunisAir is one of the oldest airlines in Africa. The airline has been flying for over 60 years and recently embarked on a $2 billion fleet renewal activity. At the just concluded Farnborough Airshow, TunisAir placed orders for the A350 becoming the third African airline to place orders for the aircraft type. TunisAir also ordered 10 A320s. Deliveries of the A320s will begin in 2011 through 2016, while two of the A330s will be delivered in 2012 and the last in 2013.

The A350s are scheduled for delivery in 2018.The Chairman of the Airline, Mr. Nabil Chettaoui explained to Aviation & Allied Business in London that the 320s would be deployed on the airlines traditional routes, especially Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. "The A330 can reach the North of America and we plan to open probably Montreal and New York (routes), explained Mr. Chettaoui.

Mr. Chettaoui says TunisAir made the orders in spite of the global economic crunch because it has confidence in the future of the air transport industry. This confidence derives from the fact that Tunisia is a major tourist destination in the world. Furthermore, according to Chettaoui, the origin of the crisis in the airline industry is fuel price and "with the new aircraft we can ameliorate our fuel burn".  Speaking further on how the company has been managing its fuel challenge, Chettaoui said the airline had been working with IATA to decrease its fuel budget and hope to achieve 7% less fuel consumption. The airline also says it is working on its commercial productivity to improve load factors in the short term.

 The agreement with Airbus also involves a larger one with the Tunisian government which entails an industrial collaboration which would see the government of Tunisia and Airbus collaborating to generate over 2000 aerospace jobs in Tunisia. This is particularly heartwarming because many African countries are currently facing dire shortages of manpower in the aviation sector. Given its location in the North African - Middle East Axis, with its high aviation development and expansion programmes and concomitant job mobility, this step would go to ensure that Tunisia continues to maintain safe air operations in the years to come. Mr. Chettaoui explained that this is a goal of the government to create new jobs in technologies that would confer advantages to Tunisia in the aviation industry.

In the midst of the challenges facing the industry, Mr. Chettaoui is particularly happy that Tunis Air has continued to be profitable. In its annual report for last year which was due to be released the airline says it had a turnover over One billion dinar (USD 865 million) and profit of 100 million dinar (USD85million).

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