The Tunisian government blocked the inaugural service for AeroItalia (XZ, Rome Fiumicino) between Catania and Tunis on December 18, the company confirmed to ch-aviation.
The planned flight did not happen due to “the unilateral decision of the Tunisian authorities not to allow the service to land on their territory,” according to the airline's statement. AeroItalia said the decision was not communicated with sufficient notice, causing disruptions for passengers. Tunisian authorities reportedly proposed exceptional landings at alternate nearby airports, but not in Tunis, which the carrier deemed "absurd."
In a statement to ch-aviation, AeroItalia’s executive vice president, Ugo Calvosa, acknowledged that the matter remains unresolved. “We were quite surprised,” he said. As of December 29, the flights have not launched.
ch-aviation has reached out to Tunisia’s civil aviation authority (Office de l’Aviation Civile et des Aeroports - OACA) for comment.
The ch-aviation schedules module shows AeroItalia planned to operate two-weekly services from Catania to Tunis starting on December 18. The company has a fleet of ten in-house aircraft (one ATR72-600 and nine B737-800s). It also wet-leases one A319-100 and two B737-400s.
