Tunisia and Portugal Aviation Links Expand as Tunisair Turns to White Airways A320 Amid Fleet Pressure

Written By: Prajna Ganguly

Prajna Ganguly

I am a Communication and MarCom Specialist at Travel And Tour World, driven by a passion for researching, writing, and publishing content on the global travel and tourism industry. I specialize in turning industry developments, destination stories, tourism trends, and hospitality insights into engaging, reader-focused content. With a background in media relations, brand positioning, and managing over 200 global partnerships, I bring a deep understanding of the travel ecosystem. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of travel journalism, tourism publishing, strategic communication, and destination storytelling.

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August 26, 2026 11:38 AM

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Tunisia’s national airline is reportedly strengthening short-term flying capacity with an Airbus A320 operated by Portuguese aviation company White Airways as Tunisair continues addressing aircraft availability pressures. The reported addition comes as the flag carrier works to maintain scheduled operations while pursuing improvements across its fleet and maintenance system. Tunisia’s Ministry of Transport has previously identified aircraft availability, maintenance efficiency and operational reliability as priorities for Tunisair. For passengers and tourism businesses, additional capacity could help the carrier protect schedules during periods of strong demand, although aircraft deployment can change according to operational requirements, maintenance and commercial planning.

Tunisair Faces Fleet Availability Challenge

Tunisair’s fleet availability has received significant government attention as Tunisia seeks to improve the performance of its national airline.

In March 2025, Tunisia’s Transport Minister inspected Tunisair Technics facilities at Tunis-Carthage International Airport and called for faster maintenance operations and improved availability across a fleet of 14 aircraft.

The ministry also instructed technical teams to strengthen monitoring and ensure sufficient financial support for essential spare parts.

Further action followed in October 2025 when the government reviewed progress by a dedicated unit established to monitor Tunisair fleet maintenance and improve aircraft availability.

White Airways A320 Offers Additional Flexibility

The reported use of a White Airways Airbus A320 would provide Tunisair with additional narrow-body capacity without immediately adding another permanently owned aircraft.

White Airways specialises in aviation services that include aircraft operations for other carriers. Such arrangements can allow an airline facing temporary capacity shortages to maintain flights while its own aircraft undergo maintenance or remain unavailable.

ACMI arrangements generally provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance through the operating partner.

For airlines, this can provide considerably faster access to capacity than acquiring and introducing additional aircraft into their permanent fleets.

Seasonal Demand Makes Capacity Important

Additional aircraft availability can become particularly valuable during Tunisia’s busy tourism periods.

The country receives substantial international leisure traffic, particularly from European markets, while Tunisair also serves the Tunisian diaspora and passengers travelling throughout the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.

Aircraft shortages during high-demand periods can consequently affect more than airline performance. Hotels, tour operators and travel agencies depend on reliable aviation capacity to move visitors into Tunisia.

Protecting schedules therefore has wider implications for the tourism economy.

Tunisair Continues Fleet Reform Programme

Tunisia’s government has made clear that fleet management forms part of wider reforms involving Tunisair.

Official Ministry of Transport statements have emphasised stronger technical oversight, preventative maintenance and compliance with international aviation safety standards.

Authorities have also addressed aircraft that are no longer operational. In November 2024, the Transport Ministry instructed Tunisair to accelerate preparations for disposing of out-of-service aircraft through appropriate regulatory procedures.

Together, these measures demonstrate an attempt to improve management of both operational and inactive fleet assets.

Wet Leasing Can Carry Higher Costs

Temporary aircraft capacity nevertheless involves commercial trade-offs.

Wet-leased aircraft can provide immediate operational flexibility, but airlines must weigh leasing expenses against the revenue and customer disruption that could result from cancellations or insufficient capacity.

The approach can be particularly valuable when maintenance schedules temporarily reduce an airline’s available fleet.

Passengers may also encounter differences in cabin interiors, seating or onboard services when another airline operates a flight on behalf of the ticketing carrier.

Tunisia Seeks More Reliable Air Connectivity

For Tunisia, improving Tunisair’s operational performance carries strategic importance because aviation directly supports the country’s tourism economy and international connectivity.

The Ministry of Transport’s intervention in maintenance and fleet availability demonstrates that aircraft utilisation remains a significant priority.

The reported White Airways A320 deployment should therefore be viewed within this wider capacity strategy rather than as evidence of permanent fleet expansion.

As Tunisair works to improve aircraft availability, temporary external capacity can provide breathing room while maintenance and fleet reforms progress.

For Tunisia and Portugal, the reported cooperation also demonstrates how European ACMI operators can support African airlines confronting short-term fleet pressures.

Ultimately, Tunisair’s longer-term challenge will be converting temporary capacity solutions into consistently reliable operations while developing a sustainable fleet capable of supporting Tunisia’s growing aviation and tourism requirements.