President Kaïs Saïed met on Monday afternoon at Carthage Palace with Transport Minister Rachid Amri and Halima Khouaja, acting director general of Tunisair, to address the severe crisis affecting the national carrier.
At the beginning of the meeting, the president voiced deep concern over the airline’s ongoing decline, calling its current state “unacceptable at every level.” He criticized the deteriorating in-flight conditions and frequent delays, emphasizing that Tunisair’s service quality should be far better.
Shrinking Fleet and Alarming Maintenance Delays
Kaïs Saïed underscored the alarming state of Tunisair’s fleet, which has shrunk from 24 aircraft to just 10 operational planes. He also pointed to excessive maintenance delays, noting that while international manufacturers typically complete aircraft maintenance in 10 days, the process currently takes 123 days in Tunisia.
These inefficiencies have led to massive financial losses. The president estimated that the funds wasted—amounting to tens of billions of dinars—could have been used to purchase new aircraft. He also denounced internal mismanagement, citing politically motivated and unnecessary recruitments as key contributors to the company’s struggles.
No to Privatization of Tunisair and Tunis-Carthage Airport
Kaïs Saïed firmly declined any plans to privatize Tunisair or Tunis-Carthage International Airport, arguing that both are strategic assets targeted by powerful “lobbies.” He claimed that similar attempts have been made to seize other public landmarks in the capital, such as the El Menzah Olympic district, Chedly Zouiten Stadium, the municipal swimming pool at Place Pasteur, and Belvédère Park.
He accused certain groups of deliberately neglecting these public assets to justify selling them at reduced prices, vowing to oppose such practices.
A Call for Complete Restructuring
The president called for a comprehensive rescue plan to stop the financial bleeding and restore Tunisair’s reputation both nationally and internationally. He stressed that the airline must regain its standing in the air and on the ground.
Additionally, he stressed Tunis-Carthage Airport’s strategic advantages compared to regional competitors and suggested that an expansion project could significantly increase its capacity.
As Tunisair faces mounting challenges, Kaïs Saïed has made it clear that urgent and decisive action is needed. By identifying the airline’s internal dysfunctions while rejecting privatization as a solution, he has set the stage for a major overhaul of Tunisia’s national carrier.
