The airline industry has seen a rapid return to health since the Covid-19 pandemic, that decimated passenger numbers. Last year 9.5 billion people took to the skies, which represents a 9% year-on-year growth from the 2023 volume.
By some estimates there are over 40,000 airports in the world, but only around 9,000 are served by commercial airlines. One of those airports is located in a North African country, that is increasingly becoming popular as a holiday destination with British travellers. Tunisia saw a dramatic increase in UK tourists last year, with some 300,000 visiting the country in 2024.
This represent an increase of 60% compared to the previous year, with estimates for 2025 predicting another rise in numbers. Most visitors will arrive at Tunis–Carthage International Airport, which is the country’s biggest by a long stretch.
The airport handled some 7.2 million passengers in 2024 and hopes soon to increase that number to around 11 million, once a new terminal is fully operational.
Opened in 1940, the airport sits on over 1,200 acres of land and has two runways, with the longer one measuring 3,900 metres in length. Tunisair, Tunisia’s flag carrier, offers direct flights to major cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from the airport.
The airport is also served by several European airlines, including Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.
However, the travel hub has failed to impress many visitors arriving there, coming bottom of a poll conducted by the website Airhelp.com.
Among 250 airports, Tunis–Carthage is ranked last scoring an overall 5.73 ion the rating system, where 10 is the highest mark.
One British traveller was less than thrilled by their experiences at Tunisia’s busiest airport. KatKat88 wrote on Tripadvisor: “Tunis is definitely worth a visit. But AVOID the airport if can!!!
“The airport itself is a beautiful building, modern but with a definite moorish feeling to it BUT the airport staff to a man are insolent, rude and unaccommodating.”