Tunisair takes delivery of its second A320neo
In October 2021, Tunisair finalised a "Sale and Lease Back, SLB" agreement with the Irish lessor SMBC Aviation Capital for the financing of five Airbus A320neo. The carrier is counting on the operational capacities of this aircraft to revitalise its fleet which has suffered several breakdowns in recent years.
The aircraft deliveries are following one another at Tunisair. Less than two months after receiving its first A320neo (last December 23), the Tunisian flagship took delivery of a second aircraft of the type in Tunis on the evening of Thursday, February 10, 2022.
The aircraft, coming from Toulouse in France, is now registered TS-IMY (MSN 10631) and named Sbeïtla in reference to the city in the centre west of Tunisia which hosts one of the country's most important archaeological sites. Like the first aircraft, the aircraft has a double-class configuration that can accommodate up to 150 passengers, including 12 in business class. The A320neo offers a fuel saving performance of 15-20% compared to the first A320 family. It also has the particularity of offering significant reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 20% and almost 50% for nitrogen oxide emissions, says the manufacturer Airbus.
This new acquisition reinforces Tunisair's fleet, which is currently being restructured. According to the delivery schedule, two other aircraft of the type are scheduled to arrive this year and a fifth in 2023. Within the framework of this SLB operation with the Irish leasing company, the company should benefit from a return in cash of the advances of funds (of approximately 73 million euros) mobilised from the European manufacturer Airbus. The modernisation of the fleet is in line with the airline's recovery plan, which aims, among other things, to reduce the age of the fleet to less than 10 years against 13.2 years currently. Thus, Tunisair plans, in parallel, to withdraw a certain number of aircraft including several A320-200, A319 and Boeing 737-600. The other part of this restructuring covers the reduction of staff, the rationalisation of the network with the elimination of loss-making routes as well as the recapitalisation and partial privatisation of certain activities, which are not essential to the operation of air operations.
This new acquisition reinforces the fleet of Tunisair in the middle of a restructuring process. According to the delivery schedule, two other aircraft of the type are expected to arrive this year and a fifth in 2023. Within the framework of this SLB operation with the Irish leasing company, the company should benefit from a return in cash of the advances of funds (of approximately 73 million euros) mobilised from the European manufacturer Airbus.
The modernisation of the fleet is in line with the airline's recovery plan, which aims, among other things, to reduce the age of the fleet to less than 10 years against 13.2 years currently. Thus, Tunisair plans, in parallel, to withdraw a certain number of aircraft including several A320-200, A319 and Boeing 737-600. The other part of this restructuring covers the reduction of staff, the rationalisation of the network with the elimination of loss-making routes as well as the recapitalisation and partial privatisation of certain activities, which are not essential to the operation of air operations.
