“The volume of losses reported by Tunisair in 2011 exceeded 100 million Tunisian dinars (MTD),” said Mr. Najia El Gharbi, Secretary General of Tunisair.
The number of passengers fell 14%, the flight time declined by 5.3% and the operating revenues were down 4.8%, she added.
Speaking Tuesday at the periodic meeting with the press at the Government Palace in Kasbah, Mrs. El Gharbi said the negative results are attributed to the increase in fuel prices (+32%), insurance expenses (+38.6%) and depreciation charges (+11.5%).
Yet, human resources were reinforced in 2011 with the recruitment of 800 new employees in the different companies of Tunisair Holding, bringing the total number of staff to 8,400.
The national airline has also initiated a program to integrate nearly 800 other contract employees. This program will extend over the 2012-2014 period.
In another connection, the official reminded of the obsolescence of the fleet which has 32 aircraft whose age ranges between 8 and 21 years, announcing that the “company had launched in 2008 a program to rejuvenate its fleet, involving the purchase of 16 aircraft over 12 years and the withdrawal gradually of airplanes whose age exceeded 20 years.”
“Tunisair has acquired so far 3 aircraft A320 and will purchase in the next few years 7 other A320, 3 A330 and 3 A350,” she underlined.
