Tunisair (ICAO: TAR) is the national flag carrier airline of Tunisia, playing a significant role in connecting the North African nation with destinations across four continents.
Tunisair was established in late 1948 as Société Tunisienne de l'Air, commencing its operations on April 1, 1949. The airline's initial funding was a partnership with the Tunisian government and Air France each holding a 35% stake, alongside other private interests. Air France facilitated the airline's start by providing initial aircraft, such as DC-3s, and several routes, including those to Algiers, Nice, Rome, and Marseille. The Tunisian government assumed primary ownership of the airline in 1957.
The airline's main operational base and hub is Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN). Tunisair operates scheduled international services across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, serving over 40 destinations in approximately 24 countries. The airline also manages a subsidiary, Tunisair Express, which handles domestic and shorter-distance international flights.
Tunisair's current fleet primarily consists of Airbus aircraft, including Airbus A320neo, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A319-100, and Airbus A330-200 models. While the fleet size is around 30 aircraft, the average age varies, with newer A320neos being around one year old and some A319s averaging 22 years. Tunisair offers both Business Class and Economy Class cabin services. On its A320neo aircraft, passengers can enjoy a Wi-Fi Streaming entertainment system accessible via personal devices, along with power outlets and USB ports. Meals and beverages are typically served in Economy class, even on shorter flights. Tunisair is not a member of any major global airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld.
Traveler reviews for Tunisair are notably mixed, with a general sentiment leaning towards dissatisfaction, particularly regarding operational reliability and customer service. Skytrax rates Tunisair as a 2-Star Airline, and many reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and TripAdvisor reflect significant negative experiences.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall, the sentiment suggests that while Tunisair can offer competitive pricing and some comfortable flights, the consistent issues with punctuality, customer service, and aircraft maintenance significantly detract from the passenger experience.
Tunisair has maintained a strong safety record regarding fatal accidents since its founding. The airline has never experienced a fatal accident since it began operations in 1948.
Despite this, Tunisair has had three reported hull losses where aircraft were damaged beyond repair but without fatalities:
More recent minor incidents include a burst tire on landing in Bucharest (A320, 2020), a hydraulic pump problem near Tunis (Boeing 737-600, 2021), and issues retracting landing gear after takeoff from Tunis (A319, 2021).
In terms of regulatory certifications and assessments, AirlineRatings.com gives Tunisair a 7/7 safety rating (as of February 23, 2024), which is considered excellent. The rating also notes a "Passed" status for incident ratings and audits. While specific details about IOSA or FAA compliance are not explicitly stated in the available search results, the IATA membership and high safety rating from AirlineRatings suggest adherence to international aviation standards.
Tunisair's fleet has a mixed age profile; while newer Airbus A320neos are only about a year old, some A319s average 22 years. The airline states its commitment to "high emphasis on the maintenance and regular updating of its fleet to ensure safety, reliability, and comfort for its passengers." In 2009, the Geneva-based Observatory of Aviation Safety and Tourism (OBSSAT) recognized Tunisair as one of the safest airlines globally due to its lack of crashes. Overall, based on available data, Tunisair has a commendable safety record, particularly concerning the absence of fatal accidents.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUN → ORY |
Paris Orly
Orly (near Paris)
|
137 | 912 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| DJE → ORY |
Paris Orly
Orly (near Paris)
|
102 | 1115 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TUN → MRS |
Marseille Provence
Marseille
|
83 | 527 mi | A20N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| ORY → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
79 | 912 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TUN → NCE |
Nice Cote d'Azur
Nice
|
68 | 497 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| MIR → NCE |
Nice Cote d'Azur
Nice
|
64 | 578 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TUN → LYS |
Lyon
Saint Exupery
|
58 | 669 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TUN → MXP |
Malpensa Int'l
Milan
|
51 | 612 mi | A20N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| MRS → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
50 | 527 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TUN → IST |
Istanbul Airport
Istanbul
|
50 | 1037 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| TUN → BRU |
Brussels
Brussels
|
46 | 1012 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| TUN → FRA |
Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
|
40 | 915 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| DJE → LYS |
Lyon
Saint Exupery
|
40 | 873 mi | A320 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| TUN → GVA |
Geneva Cointrin Int'l
Geneva
|
39 | 683 mi | A20N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| TUN → CMN |
Mohammed V Int'l
Casablanca
|
38 | 1035 mi | A320 | Dec 1, 2025 |
| TUN → TLS |
Toulouse-Blagnac
Blagnac
|
36 | 662 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TUN → FCO |
Leonardo da Vinci Int'l (Fiumicino Int'l)
Rome
|
36 | 359 mi | A20N | Dec 6, 2025 |
| MIR → LYS |
Lyon
Saint Exupery
|
35 | 750 mi | A320 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| NCE → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
34 | 497 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BKO → ABJ |
Port Bouet (Felix Houphouet Boigny Int'l)
Abidjan
|
31 | 573 mi | A20N | Dec 9, 2025 |
| NKC → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
30 | 2043 mi | A320 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| CMN → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
30 | 1035 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
| LYS → TUN |
Tunis-Carthage Int'l
Tunis
|
29 | 669 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TUN → LGW |
London Gatwick
London
|
27 | 1114 mi | A20N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| TUN → BLQ |
Bologna (Guglielmo Marconi)
Bologna
|
27 | 534 mi | A20N | Dec 8, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.