Mohamed Frikha promises 10 planes and 2000 jobs to Syphax Airlines!
17 April 2012
Read by 2292 persons
A new boost has been given to the Tunisian transport sector with the launch on Saturday, April 14, 2012, of the new private airline, Syphax Airlines, owned by Mohamed Frikha, a Tunisian businessman from Sfax and CEO of the Telnet group.
In a friendly atmosphere with many journalists present, Syphax Airlines launched its first inaugural flight from Tunis to Sfax. For its launch, the new airline opted for a fleet of two Airbus A319s, named "Karama" and "Horria," a name referring to the Revolution and its underlying values. Acquired for a total of $55 million, or approximately 82.5 million dinars, the two aircraft are equipped with two classes with a capacity of 150 seats each.
Through this initiative, Syphax Airlines aims to create wealth not only in the Sfax region but also for all of Tunisia. It is also an opportunity to encourage foreign investment in Tunisia. "We want to show foreign investors that Tunisia is healthy and that investments in our region have already resumed," said Mohamed Frikha. According to him, Syphax Airlines currently employs 150 executives, of whom only 30% are from Sfax, with the others from different regions. Most, about 80%, of this personnel are university graduates. However, Frikha's ambitions are not limited to 150 executives. In the medium and long term, the businessman has promised to create between 1500 and 2000 jobs. He also mentioned the purchase of 8 additional aircraft. The goal is to reach 10 aircraft in 5 years.
The two aircraft, which effectively started their flights on April 9, arrived on the tarmac of Sfax Thyna Airport in March. In light of the company's development (serving destinations such as North America - mainly the USA and Canada) and following the opening of Tunisian skies to international competition, other aircraft of the same family will strengthen the fleet in the coming years, according to the company's business plan, including a third A319 and an A320 from 2015. Not to mention the possibility of developing freight services.
Moreover, Mohamed Frikha did not hide his intention to list the new airline on the stock exchange and the alternative market. Encouraged by the profits recorded by his company Telnet following its listing on the stock exchange, Mohamed Frikha indicated that Syphax's listing will take place no later than during 2012.
Based at Sfax Thyna Airport, Syphax Airlines' network will consist of international destinations, mainly to France with daily flights planned to Paris, three bi-weekly flights to Marseille, Lyon, Nice and Rome, and two flights per week to Casablanca, Istanbul and Benghazi. In the longer term and depending on circumstances, special flights could then be organized to other European destinations, the Middle East or the Americas. To ensure the 8 daily flights scheduled, the new company will rely particularly on Tunisian know-how and the expertise of its executives, as well as other executives in charge of ground operations, security, technical maintenance and marketing operations.
The A319 is a slightly smaller version of the Airbus A320, the "cornerstone" of single-aisle airliners. The A319 continues to prove its versatility, allowing carriers worldwide to take advantage of its range of options and cabin flexibility. In addition to the 124-seat configuration with a range of up to 3740 nautical miles, Airbus offers an option with a capacity of up to 156 passengers. The A320 is 4 meters shorter than the A320. It has the same engines (CFM reactors) and the same kerosene capacity as the A320.
Khadija Taboubi.
Africanmanager.com
Published on April 16, 2012.
Posted online on April 17, 2012.
In a friendly atmosphere with many journalists present, Syphax Airlines launched its first inaugural flight from Tunis to Sfax. For its launch, the new airline opted for a fleet of two Airbus A319s, named "Karama" and "Horria," a name referring to the Revolution and its underlying values. Acquired for a total of $55 million, or approximately 82.5 million dinars, the two aircraft are equipped with two classes with a capacity of 150 seats each.
Through this initiative, Syphax Airlines aims to create wealth not only in the Sfax region but also for all of Tunisia. It is also an opportunity to encourage foreign investment in Tunisia. "We want to show foreign investors that Tunisia is healthy and that investments in our region have already resumed," said Mohamed Frikha. According to him, Syphax Airlines currently employs 150 executives, of whom only 30% are from Sfax, with the others from different regions. Most, about 80%, of this personnel are university graduates. However, Frikha's ambitions are not limited to 150 executives. In the medium and long term, the businessman has promised to create between 1500 and 2000 jobs. He also mentioned the purchase of 8 additional aircraft. The goal is to reach 10 aircraft in 5 years.
The two aircraft, which effectively started their flights on April 9, arrived on the tarmac of Sfax Thyna Airport in March. In light of the company's development (serving destinations such as North America - mainly the USA and Canada) and following the opening of Tunisian skies to international competition, other aircraft of the same family will strengthen the fleet in the coming years, according to the company's business plan, including a third A319 and an A320 from 2015. Not to mention the possibility of developing freight services.
Moreover, Mohamed Frikha did not hide his intention to list the new airline on the stock exchange and the alternative market. Encouraged by the profits recorded by his company Telnet following its listing on the stock exchange, Mohamed Frikha indicated that Syphax's listing will take place no later than during 2012.
Based at Sfax Thyna Airport, Syphax Airlines' network will consist of international destinations, mainly to France with daily flights planned to Paris, three bi-weekly flights to Marseille, Lyon, Nice and Rome, and two flights per week to Casablanca, Istanbul and Benghazi. In the longer term and depending on circumstances, special flights could then be organized to other European destinations, the Middle East or the Americas. To ensure the 8 daily flights scheduled, the new company will rely particularly on Tunisian know-how and the expertise of its executives, as well as other executives in charge of ground operations, security, technical maintenance and marketing operations.
The A319 is a slightly smaller version of the Airbus A320, the "cornerstone" of single-aisle airliners. The A319 continues to prove its versatility, allowing carriers worldwide to take advantage of its range of options and cabin flexibility. In addition to the 124-seat configuration with a range of up to 3740 nautical miles, Airbus offers an option with a capacity of up to 156 passengers. The A320 is 4 meters shorter than the A320. It has the same engines (CFM reactors) and the same kerosene capacity as the A320.
Khadija Taboubi.
Africanmanager.com
Published on April 16, 2012.
Posted online on April 17, 2012.
