Tunisair Cancels Repatriation Flights from Morocco Amid Financial Crisis

In a press release, the airline specified that these flights were reserved "exclusively for Tunisians, Moroccans and foreigners residing in Morocco, holders of a valid residence permit". Other flights are also scheduled for Friday, August 21, Monday, August 25 and Friday, August 28, 2020, then Tuesday, September 1, Friday, September 4, Tuesday, September 8 and Friday, September 11, 2020.

According to Air Journal, the pandemic has been added to a difficult economic and social situation for Tunisair. As a result, its CEO Elyes Mnakbi was dismissed in early July by the Minister of Transport. According to the data published on the stock exchange, the company has lost 97% of its customers compared to the same period last year. It currently has around 23,000 passengers compared to 864,000. As for the occupancy rate of its aircraft, it has fallen from 74.1% to 58.4%.

As for Tunisair’s transport-related revenues, they have fallen by 95%, from 416.19 to 19 million dinars. In addition, the drop in activity in the second quarter also affected personnel expenses (-22%), fuel costs (-97%), as well as a significant decrease in financial expenses due to the postponement of all bank maturities, it is indicated.

While at the end of June 2020, the Tunisair company employed 3,150 people and managed a fleet of 28 aircraft (including seven on lease), Tunisia should lose 47% of its air passengers this year, according to IATA. To mitigate the health measures on the national economy, still without result, IATA has called on the local government since early June to urgently establish financial aid measures for the aviation industry.