Tunisia gets ready for Open Skies agreement with Europe in 2017

Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Selma Elloumi, said that should the treaty be signed and ratified, it could be implemented as early as March next year. However, she highlighted that among the caveats to be added is a clause which will restrict foreign access to Tunis Carthage International Airport for a period of two years.

As such, Tunisia's other airfields - Monastir, Djerba, Tozeur and Tabarka - will be opened to European operators with the exception of Tunis which should follow in either 2018/19. 

Elloumi said this will allow national carrier Tunisair time to adapt to what is expected to become a highly competitive market akin to that in Morocco, which inked its own Open Skies agreement with the EU in late 2005.