Brussels to Tunis on an Airbus A320
A Short History of Tunisair
Tunisair is the national airline of Tunisia and one of the oldest airlines in Africa.
The company was founded in 1948, while Tunisia was still under French rule, and began operations shortly afterwards. Following Tunisian independence in 1956, Tunisair gradually developed into the country’s main international airline and became an important link between Tunisia, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
For decades, Tunisair has played a major role in connecting Tunisia with cities such as Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Brussels and London. European routes have always been particularly important because of tourism, business links and the large Tunisian communities living across Europe.
The airline has operated several generations of aircraft over its history, including Caravelles, Boeing 727s, Boeing 737s and various Airbus types. In more recent decades, the Airbus A320 family has become one of the most important parts of its short- and medium-haul fleet.
Tunisair has never really positioned itself as a luxury airline. Its main strength has traditionally been its network between Tunisia and Europe.
Its reputation among passengers can also be mixed. Delays, ageing aircraft interiors and inconsistent service sometimes appear in reviews, while other passengers have perfectly normal and uneventful journeys.
My own experience on 18 January 2020 belonged much more to the latter category.
My Flight from Brussels to Tunis
On 18 January 2020, I flew with Tunisair from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN).
The flight was operated as TU789 using an Airbus A320, registration TS-IMU.
Tunisair does not always have the best reputation, and there are plenty of rather negative trip reports online. My own experience, however, was far less dramatic.
The flight was simply okay.
Nothing particularly memorable, nothing especially luxurious, but also nothing to complain seriously about.
The food was good, the flight did what it was supposed to do, and my experience was certainly not as bad as some of the Tunisair flights documented by aviation YouTuber Josh Cahill.
Flight Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 January 2020 |
| Airline | Tunisair |
| Flight number | TU789 |
| Route | Brussels (BRU) → Tunis (TUN) |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320 |
| Registration | TS-IMU |
| Distance | 1,012 km |
| Scheduled departure | 11:10 |
| Scheduled arrival | 13:50 |
| Seat | 10A |
Flying Tunisair from Brussels
Tunisair is one of those airlines that many European travellers know by name, but relatively few would describe as an airline they actively look forward to flying.
Its reputation is mixed.
Some passengers report delays, ageing cabins or inconsistent service, while others simply use Tunisair as a practical way of getting between Europe and Tunisia.
My experience belonged firmly in the second category.
There was no spectacular service and nothing about the flight made me think that Tunisair was about to challenge the major Gulf or European carriers.
But neither did anything happen that justified the worst stereotypes surrounding the airline.
It was simply a normal flight.
And sometimes that is perfectly fine.
Brussels Airport
The journey started at Brussels Airport, Belgium’s main international gateway.
Tunisair’s presence at Brussels makes sense. Belgium and Tunisia have strong tourism, family and migration links, creating steady demand between the two countries.
A nonstop Brussels–Tunis flight is also considerably more convenient than connecting through Paris, Frankfurt or another European hub.
In January, there is another obvious advantage: flying south.
Leaving Belgium in the middle of winter and heading towards the Mediterranean is rarely a bad idea.
Airbus A320 TS-IMU
The aircraft operating TU789 was Airbus A320 TS-IMU.
My seat was 10A, a window seat on the left-hand side of the aircraft.
The A320 is exactly the sort of aircraft you would expect on a route like Brussels–Tunis. At just over 1,000 kilometres, there is little need for a larger aircraft.
The cabin itself did not leave a particularly strong impression on me.
That might sound like criticism, but it really isn’t.
After hundreds of flights, sometimes an aircraft cabin simply becomes the place where you spend the next couple of hours.
This was one of those flights.
What Was Tunisair Actually Like?
The easiest way to describe my experience with Tunisair would probably be:
Fine.
Not amazing. Not terrible.
The service did not particularly stand out, but I also did not encounter any of the disastrous situations that occasionally appear in online Tunisair reviews.
The crew got us from Brussels to Tunis, and the overall experience was perfectly acceptable for a relatively short flight.
For an airline with a reputation for inconsistency, an uneventful flight might actually be a compliment.
The Food Was Surprisingly Good
One aspect of the flight I remember positively was the food.
Airline food is an easy target, particularly in economy class, but the meal served by Tunisair was actually good.
It wasn’t something I would book a flight for, obviously, but it was better than simply receiving a tiny snack or being asked to buy everything from a trolley.
On a short European or Mediterranean flight, receiving a proper meal already makes the experience feel slightly more traditional.
Tunisair therefore did quite well in this department.
Not Quite the Josh Cahill Experience
Aviation enthusiasts who spend time on YouTube may be familiar with Josh Cahill’s experiences with Tunisair, some of which have painted a far more chaotic picture of the airline.
My flight was nothing like that.
There was no aviation disaster story waiting to be written when we landed.
No extraordinary drama.
No reason to declare Tunisair the worst airline I had ever flown.
My personal experience was simply much better than some of the more infamous Tunisair reviews online.
That does not mean those negative experiences did not happen. Airlines can be remarkably inconsistent, and two passengers flying the same carrier on different days can walk away with completely different opinions.
On TU789 on 18 January 2020, I happened to get the perfectly ordinary version of Tunisair.
Brussels to Tunis
The flight covered around 1,012 kilometres, departing Brussels at a scheduled 11:10 and arriving in Tunis at 13:50.
It is a relatively short journey, but geographically it represents quite a transition.
Within a couple of hours you move from Belgium and northwestern Europe towards North Africa and the Mediterranean.
That is one of the things I continue to enjoy about flying.
Not every interesting journey requires crossing an ocean.
Sometimes a short flight changes the landscape, language, architecture, climate and atmosphere completely.
Arriving at Tunis–Carthage
The destination was Tunis–Carthage International Airport.
Even the airport name is a reminder of the extraordinary history surrounding Tunis.
Ancient Carthage was once one of Rome’s greatest rivals and one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Today, its ruins sit close to modern Tunis and only a relatively short distance from the airport.
It is difficult to find many airports where the name itself refers to a civilisation that once challenged Rome for control of the Mediterranean.
Was Tunisair Good?
I wouldn’t describe this particular flight as special.
But I also wouldn’t describe it as bad.
The best summary is probably that Tunisair delivered an okay and perfectly acceptable flight from Brussels to Tunis.
The food was good.
The Airbus A320 did its job.
I reached Tunisia.
And unlike some of the more dramatic Tunisair experiences found online, there was no story of chaos to tell afterwards.
Sometimes aviation enthusiasts almost expect every flight to provide a story.
This one didn’t.
And that is a story in itself.
QuixoticGuide Verdict
My flight aboard Tunisair TU789 was neither impressive nor disastrous.
It was simply a normal short-haul flight.
The service was acceptable, the food was good, and my overall experience was significantly better than Tunisair’s worst online reputation might lead you to expect.
Would I describe it as one of my most memorable flights?
No.
Would I fly Tunisair again based on this experience?
There would be no reason not to.
Not every airline needs to be extraordinary.
Sometimes getting from Brussels to Tunis aboard A320 TS-IMU, sitting in 10A, eating a decent meal and arriving without drama is enough.
Flight: Tunisair TU789
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Registration: TS-IMU
Route: Brussels (BRU) – Tunis (TUN)
Date: 18 January 2020
Seat: 10A
Distance: 1,012 km