TUNISIA: 2027 Budget Plan Includes Tender to Lease Three Aircraft for Six Years
TUNIS, Tunisia: Tunisia plans an international tender to lease two medium-haul aircraft and one widebody for six years, according to the 2027 budget plan presented by Transport Minister Rachid Amri.
TUNIS, Tunisia
- Tunisia plans to launch an international tender to lease three aircraft for six years: two medium-haul jets and one widebody.
- Transport Minister Rachid Amri set out the plan on 4 November, when he presented his ministry’s 2027 priorities to parliamentary committees as part of the draft 2027 Finance Law.
- The leases are meant to add capacity to the national fleet.
- Tunisair already launched an international tender in March 2026 to lease two A320s for six years. Its development plan also includes further leases between 2027 and 2030.
- Tunisair operated 19 aircraft in the first quarter of 2026. Seven were owned, three were on finance leases, and nine were on long-term leases, as covered when the airline discussed fleet renewal with Boeing in October.
- The active fleet is made up of ten A320ceos, five A320neos, one A319, and two A330-200s. Seven 737-600s and three 737-500s are parked and awaiting disposal.
- Only one of the two A330s is flying. The other (MSN 1631 | TS-IFM) has been stored without engines at Châteauroux (CHR) since April 2025 over a legal dispute with US-based Lone Star Group.
- The carrier is also looking to raise money. It is seeking shareholder approval on 10 November for a TND 24 million Tunisian dinars (USD 8 million) private bond. Total debt rose 23% to TND 728 million (USD 251 million) at the end of June.
- The budget also sets aside TND 151 million (USD 51.3 million) to complete scheduled maintenance, including spare parts and modifications to aeronautical equipment.
- TND 15 million (USD 5.1 million) is earmarked for four VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) beacons and one distance measuring equipment (DME) unit.
- A further TND 20 million (USD 6.8 million) will pay for a Standard III explosive detection system at Djerba–Zarzis International Airport (DJE). A procurement process for that system was already started in 2026.
- TND 16 million (USD 5.4 million) will go on replacing the baggage handling system at Djerba–Zarzis’s old terminal and baggage sorting station 4 in the international arrivals area at Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN).
Sources:
Comments ()