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Tunis Airport (TUN)

Florian Buechting Airports and Airlines No Comments

Tunis Airport (TUN)

Tunis Airport (TUN)
2.3

Rating

 2.3/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice architecture
  • Overall working transportation

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Nepotism and inefficient services
  • Some minor scams, especially to tourists
  • No transfer possible on my flight

Having a 1,000 EUR business class flight with Saudia to Kuala Lumpur just felt too tempting for me. The downside of the trip was that you have to depart from Tunis Airport (TUN). There are numerous connections from Europe to the Tunisian capital, so that I felt ready to go for that kind of adventure. Here is my review of my experience at Tunis Airport (TUN), based on four flights I had in February and March 2023.

 

Tunis Airport (TUN) – Location & Transport

Tunis Airport (TUN) is located North of the city center, rather close to the beach hotels. The terminal is on the West side, though. There are no hotels directly at the terminal. I stayed at the MAIA Hotel Suites in the Tunisian capital. The most convenient option (also one of the most expansive ones) is the Tunis Marriott.

There is no tram or light rail connection to the airport. The closest option would be El Fell, which is still quite a bit away from the terminal and requires a transfer. The easiest way to get around is a taxi. I chartered a private transfer to my hotel, who was waiting for me at the arrivals. The price was less than 20 Euro. A taxi is definitely cheaper, but may give you a lower level of comfort and felt safety. The cheapest option to city center is a transfer bus, which is leaving every 30 minutes and costs 1 TND (Tunisian Dinar), which is roughly 0.30 Euro

 

Tunis Airport (TUN) – Connections

Nouvelair and Tunisair are the domestic providers of air transportation to Tunis (TUN). However, the airport is very well connected to all major European cities. There are also some holiday and low budget airlines serving the airport. Many major European Airlines like Air France and Lufthansa serve the air travel hub as well. Royal Jordanian, Saudia and Emirates connect to the Middle East. There are also some connections to Africa, majorly North African destinations. This includes some rather exotic (for European and North American flyers) options like Afriqiyah Airways (to Libya), Mauritania Airlines or Libyan Wings.

 

Arriving at Tunis Airport (TUN)

I had two arrivals at Tunis Airport (TUN), one arriving from Paris (CDG) and staying one night at the MAIA Hotel Suites thereafter and one arriving from Jeddah. The arrivals handling felt fine. However, you should at least allow for 20 minutes at the immigration lines. Some people felt to know some people at the controls and could skip the queues, though. At least, the luggage was on the belt until then. There is no arrivals duty free. On my return, Saudia had checked me through all the way from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Dusseldorf (DUS). While my luggage was transferred, I was refused to transfer in Tunis (TUN) – the transfer time of some six hours felt too long for them. Thus, I had to immigrate to Tunisia and enjoy the lovely sportsbar Aeroclub at the upper level of the landside part of the terminal.

 

Departing from Tunis Airport (TUN)

Similar to airports in some Asian countries, you have to scan all your luggage before entering the terminal building. When I arrived there by taxi, numerous luggage carriers approached me for assistance. If you have sufficient time, this is not absolutely necessary, they typically guide you to the entrance closer to the arrivals gate. The landside area of the terminal is a beauty in architecture. However, it is a nightmare in regards of signs and directions. Of course, there are again people there who help you inside the terminal. In line with the luggage people, they somehow officially or inofficially work there. It can be a bit of strenuous to deal with them, but at least the guy I finally paid was very friendly. It would have taken me quite some time without him to find the Saudia check-in counter – and on the return (I ran into the same guy again) the Air France one.

Security is rather efficient. There are VIP check-in services, similar to the Merhaba one at Dubai (DXB), which can be a bit of bothering, as they simply pass all lines. One of them was blocking me for ten minutes at emigration on the return, just because one of their clients just did not seem to have the right documents. Tunis Airport (TUN) offers a limited number of shopping and dining services. Ground handling was a nightmare, though. I missed my connection in Paris (CDG) at the return due to them. The Air France plane arrived in time, but on the ground, the plane lost almost one hour to its schedule. Priority handling was poor as well.

 

Tunis Airport (TUN) – Services

There is free WiFi, which was a bit of bumpy during my stays, at the airport. Furthermore, there is the Priviledge Lounge, which is not too fancy, but still better than hanging out at the terminal. I will review it separately.

 

Tunis Airport (TUN) – My View

The architecture of the airport is nice and it offers some very interesting destinations – but apart from that, Tunis Airport (TUN) is rather a nightmare. There are inefficient services and some minor scams. You shouldn’t be too sensitive about nepotism as well. Let’s hope that the country continues to recover from its deep impacts and that this also leads to a more positive outcome for the airport.

 

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