TunisAir places order for 4 Airbus A320 neo jets to revamp aging fleet

Tunisia’s national carrier, TunisAir, signed Thursday an acquisition deal with Airbus for four A320 neo passenger jets with possibility for a fifth one following the delivery of the ordered aircraft, Tunisie Numerique reports.

The airline will take delivery of the first jet in December whereas the remaining three will be delivered in the course of next year, the media says.

The airline Chairman and CEO Khaled Chelly signed the deal expected to revamp and increase the aging fleet of the troubled company. Chelly was appointed following the sacking in February of Olfa Hamdi only less than two months into the job.

The airline has been in financial distress compounded by mismanagement. The carrier had been unable to pay salaries and owes Turkish airport operator TAV Airports multiple millions of dollars.

The company currently operates eight aircraft for more than 20 destinations including France, Morocco, Algeria, Germany, UK, Portugal and Spain.