Nouvelair and Tunisair pursue expansion strategy

The national carrier Tunisair has scheduled more than 17,000 flights and around 2.7 million seats. This represents an increase of 19 per cent compared with the 2023 summer season. The recovery trend observed in 2023, following a 20 per cent increase in the number of passengers, confirms an accelerated growth in the tourism sector. It will perform even better in 2024 according to estimates.

Early this year, the CEO of Tunisair nevertheless affirmed that the national company “has come a long way”. The restructuring plan is still being implemented (debt reduction, social plan, digitalisation, recommissioning and strengthening of the aircraft fleet and new international routes).

To ensure its flight plan, Tunisair has accelerated MRO services of its aircraft.

At the same time, Tunisair has improved its offer by reopening regular routes such as a weekly flight to Lisbon, two flights per week between Tunis and Zurich, and a weekly flight from Djerba. Nantes will also reinforce its network.

The programme also includes increasing frequencies to several French destinations, namely Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Paris-Orly. Tunisair is also strengthening its African and Middle East network with more flights to Bamako, Casablanca, Conakry, Oran and Tripoli. More flights are also planned to Istanbul, Madrid and Venice.

Tunisair plans to open more international routes to China and the United States by 2026 to boost its financial recovery.

For its part, the country's first private company Nouvelair recently unveiled an ambitious development plan to consolidate its network with new routes to serve the European market.

According to its managing director, Chokri Zarrad, these additional routes are part of “the growth strategy initiated in 2023 with the launch of 15 routes to five countries”.

Nouvelair will serve Barcelona, Madrid and Hamburg with two weekly flights,and Brussels from Monastir and Casablanca (three weekly flights).   The company offers nearly 40 cities to fully meet the travel appetite of its customers.

The private airline operates from Tunis, Monastir and Djerba. It flies to more than 130 airports in over 30 countries covering three continents.

These measures were eagerly awaited as air transport still faces financial difficulties and competition despite renewed dynamism.