Tunisair: The first A320neo has just joined its fleet

Tunisair took delivery of its first A320neo (MSN 10575, TS-IMX, christened Carthage) on December 23 as part of a “sale and lease back” agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital.

The aircraft is configured with a dual-class cabin with 150 seats: 12 in business class and 138 in economy class. It is powered by CFM International LEAP-1A.

The Irish lessor will place four more devices of the type with the Tunisian national company, including three in 2022.

These aircraft come from a revised order from Tunisair concluded in 2016 (a conversion of five A320ceos from a previous order placed in 2008).

According to Managing Director Khaled Al-Chelly, this sale-leaseback operation will result in a cash return of 73 million euros in cash advances from Airbus.

These new acquisitions are in line with Tunisair’s fleet modernization plan, which ended 2020 with more than half of its fleet (28 aircraft) out of service due to lack of maintenance.