AeroItalia’s Tunis Flight Blocked by Tunisian Authorities
AeroItalia’s inaugural flight from Catania to Tunis, scheduled for December 18, was blocked by Tunisian authorities, the airline confirmed. The government’s decision to deny the service landing rights in Tunis was reportedly made without prior notice, causing significant disruption for passengers.
In response, Tunisian authorities proposed alternate landings at nearby airports, but AeroItalia rejected the proposal, describing it as “absurd.” The airline expressed frustration over the unilateral decision and lack of communication, which left the matter unresolved as of December 29.
Ugo Calvosa, AeroItalia’s executive vice president, stated the airline was “quite surprised” by the unexpected obstruction. The carrier has since sought clarification from Tunisia’s civil aviation authority, Office de l’Aviation Civile et des Aeroports (OACA), but no further details have been provided.
AeroItalia had planned to operate twice-weekly flights between Catania and Tunis, marking an expansion of its Mediterranean network. The airline’s current fleet includes ten in-house aircraft, comprising one ATR72-600 and nine Boeing 737-800s, alongside wet-leased aircraft, including one Airbus A319-100 and two Boeing 737-400s.
The blocked launch highlights ongoing challenges for airlines seeking new market entries in North Africa. AeroItalia’s team continues to work on resolving the issue to fulfill its planned operations between Italy and Tunisia.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com