Gunter Endres/LONDON
THE ANGLO-TUNISIAN all-cargo airline, North African Airlines (NAA), has received the first scheduled air-cargo licence in Tunisia.
In partnership with the Tunisian Government, which has granted the airline important fiscal advantages, including waiving corporation tax for ten years, it has been charged with the development of the country's air-cargo trade, in effect ending the monopoly of Tunis Air. The flag carrier's lack of capacity and unwillingness, to develop its cargo business, have hampered exports from Tunisia.
Operations are due to begin at the end of this month.
In a three-phase programme, to be implemented in the next 18 months, NAA plans to establish a ten-point network which will link all airports in Tunisia - Monastir, Tunis, Djerba, Tozeur, Tabarka and Sfax - with destinations in Europe and North and West Africa. Services from other Maghreb capitals will also be added.
NAA has purchased two new 7t- capacity Antonov An-32B turboprops, and will be adding a Boeing 707-320C freighter and a 737-200A quick-change version during 1996. The 737QC will also be used on passenger charters, mainly ferrying Tunisian migrant workers, holiday-makers and pilgrims from North Africa to Mecca. o
Source: Flight International
