Airline codes
TU · TAR
IATA · ICAO · callsign “TUNAIR”
Tunisair’s IATA code is TU, its ICAO code is TAR, and the radio callsign is TUNAIR. Type TU and your flight number into a status search to follow a Tunisair flight.
Tunisair (TU) Guide
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Flights from Tunis to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Montreal, fleet, cabins, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper Tunisair fares. Ask a question
In short
Tunisair is the flag carrier of Tunisia, based at Tunis–Carthage International. Its Airbus fleet flies to destinations in 24 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Canada, connecting Tunisia with its main markets in Europe. Tunisair is not part of an alliance and runs Fidelys. Cabins are Business and Economy.
Tunisair is Tunisia’s state-controlled national airline, with a strong focus on routes to France.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Tunisair. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Tunisair (Société Tunisienne de l'Air) is the national airline of Tunisia, based at Tunis-Carthage International Airport. It flies about 68 routes in 24 countries across Europe, North and West Africa, the Middle East and North America. Its busiest markets are France, Italy and Germany, home to large Tunisian communities, and it suits visitors to Tunisia and Tunisians travelling home.
Founded with Air France
Tunisair was formed in late 1948 with 60 million French francs of capital. The Tunisian government and Air France each held 35 per cent, and Air France handed over DC-3 aircraft and routes so flights could start on 1 April 1949. René Lefèvre was the first managing director. In 1957, after independence, the state took 51 per cent and Air France's share fell to 15 per cent.
The first jet, a Sud Caravelle III, arrived on 31 August 1961. Frankfurt flights restarted in April 1966 in cooperation with Lufthansa, the first Boeing 727 arrived on 12 March 1972 and a London route opened that April. Amman and Beirut followed in 1999, Moscow in July 2011, and the first transatlantic route, Tunis to Montreal, in July 2016.
Partial listing in 1995 and state control
About 20 per cent of the company was floated on the Tunis stock exchange in 1995, under the ticker TAIR. As of October 2024 the state held 64.86 per cent, three state social funds held 9.56 per cent, Air France still held 5.58 per cent and the remaining shares were public. In October 2024 the chief executive post was replaced by a head of general management, Montassar Bnouni, and a board chairman, Habib Mekki.
Falling passenger numbers and finances
Tunisair has been under pressure for years. Annual reports are not published regularly, but reported figures show passenger numbers falling from 3.5 to 3.8 million a year in the mid-2010s to about 2.5 million in recent years, with net losses in several years. Reports in early 2026 described capacity cuts and cost controls, so some routes and frequencies may be reduced.
Routes from Tunis-Carthage and partners
From Tunis-Carthage the network reaches France, Italy, Germany and other European countries, North and West Africa, the Middle East and Montreal. Tunisair codeshares with Emirates, Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Etihad Airways, and has interline deals with Air Canada, Air Burkina, Kuwait Airways and WestJet. It is not in a global alliance.
Planning a Tunisair trip
Schedules can change at short notice, so recheck your flight time a day before departure. Leave generous time for connections and avoid tight self-made transfers onto other airlines, as a delay on one ticket will not be covered by the other.
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Good to know
- Founded1948
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
Tunisair (IATA: TU, ICAO: TAR) is the flag carrier of Tunisia, founded in 1948 and based at Tunis–Carthage International Airport. It flies about 20 Airbus A319, A320 and A330 aircraft to destinations in 24 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Canada.
| Headquarters | Tunis, Tunisia |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Airbus A330-200, A320neo, A320, A319 |
| Frequent flyer | Fidelys |
| Official website | tunisair.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
These are the cities on Tunisair’s published route map. Timetables change through the year, so check the Tunisair schedule before you plan around a route.
Search flights
France
Tunis (TUN) departures6 destinations
FromTo TUN LYS TunisLyon Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN MRS TunisMarseille Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN NCE TunisNice Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN TLS TunisToulouse Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN ORY TunisParis Orly Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
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Paris (ORY/CDG)
Rest of Europe
Tunis (TUN) departures6 destinations
FromTo TUN FRA TunisFrankfurt Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN FCO TunisRome Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN MXP TunisMilan Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN BRU TunisBrussels Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN IST TunisIstanbul Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN MUC TunisMunich Airport (MUC) Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
Africa, Middle East & Americas
Tunis (TUN) departures6 destinations
FromTo TUN DSS TunisDakar Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN ABJ TunisAbidjan Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN ALG TunisAlgiers Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN CMN TunisCasablanca Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN JED TunisJeddah Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
FromTo TUN YUL TunisMontreal Available airlines1 airline- Tunisair
Fleet and aircraft
20 Airbus aircraft in May 2025: 2 A319s, 11 A320s, 5 A320neos and 2 A330-200s, with no outstanding orders. An A350 order was cancelled in 2013.
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Airbus A330-200 Wide-body · 2 Montreal, Jeddah and busy routes
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Airbus A320neo Narrow-body · 5 European routes
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Airbus A320-200 Narrow-body · 11 Europe, Africa and the Middle East
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Airbus A319-100 Narrow-body · 2 Shorter routes
Cabin classes
Two cabins.
Economy All flights
Full service
MealChecked bag included
Business All aircraft
Front cabin
Lounge access in TunisPriority servicesExtra baggage
Fidelys
Tunisair’s loyalty programme. Join Fidelys online before you fly so the trip counts.
Members earn miles on Tunisair flights and redeem them for award tickets and upgrades.
Baggage allowance
Tunisair does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your TU e-ticket shows what you have.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
Allowances depend on route, cabin and fare and are shown on your e-ticket.
Pro tip: summer flights to Tunisia are full of families with heavy bags; weigh your luggage at home.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Here is the order to follow for a TU flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.
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Step 1
Check in online
Where your flight allows it, check in on tunisair.com or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
International Tunisair passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic TU passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for Tunisair check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
3 hours before international -
Step 4
Drop your bags
At the airport, take your bags to the Tunisair bag-drop point. Collect a printed TU boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.
Tunisair counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Tunisair website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
A few booking habits that tend to cut the cost of flying Tunisair.
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01
Be flexible with your Tunisair dates
If your dates can move, look at TU flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.
Midweek flights -
02
Avoid peak seasons
July–August, when Tunisians abroad return home, and Eid holidays are the busiest periods.
Summer & Eid -
03
Price the bundle, not the base fare
Look at the next Tunisair fare up: if it bundles a hold bag or easier changes, it may beat the basic fare plus extras.
Baggage & changes -
Ready to compare fares?
Search Tunisair alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Tunisair flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
Yes. Tunisair flies between Tunis and Montreal, its first transatlantic route, launched in 2016.
No, but it codeshares with airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Royal Jordanian and MEA.
Yes, within the rules of your fare. Basic TU fares are the most restrictive, so check the fare conditions first and change the booking through Tunisair or your travel agent.
On an infant ticket, a child under two usually flies on an adult’s lap. Add the baby when you book with Tunisair and check what it allows for prams and car seats.
Enter your TU flight number on tunisair.com or in the app, or watch the departure boards at the airport.
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Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown Tunisair.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Tunisair.
We check these Tunisair answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.
Getting there
Tunisair is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or oneworld. It works with codeshare and interline partners for connections, so check which airline operates each leg of your trip.
Tunisair codeshares with Emirates, Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Etihad Airways.
Tunisair uses the IATA code TU and the ICAO code TAR. Its radio callsign is TUNAIR.
Online check-in: yes. Check in on tunisair.com. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
General
Tunisair's hub is Tunis-Carthage International Airport, close to central Tunis. Most of the airline's international flights to Europe, Africa and the Middle East start or connect there.
Tunisair sells Business and Economy. Business includes priority check-in and a separate cabin area, while Economy fares differ in baggage and change rules depending on the fare type.
The frequent flyer programme is called Fidelys. Members collect points on Tunisair flights and can use them for award tickets and other benefits, subject to the programme rules on the airline's website.
Baggage allowances vary by route and fare. Check the allowance shown on your ticket or on the Tunisair website before flying, especially on routes to Europe where lower fares may include less luggage.
The Tunisian state owned 64.86 per cent as of October 2024, state social funds 9.56 per cent and Air France 5.58 per cent, with the rest listed on the Tunis stock exchange.
No. Tunisair has had no fatal accidents since it was founded.
Yes. Tunisair opened its first transatlantic route, Tunis to Montreal, in July 2016.
The Tunisair fleet section on this page lists 4 aircraft types.
Contact Tunisair through its official website, tunisair.com.
Timing & weather
Tunisair was formed in 1948 with Air France as a founding shareholder and began flying on 1 April 1949.
Booking
Tunisair flies to 24 countries. They are listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.
