Airbus A330-200 Released from French Court, But Remains Grounded
After nine months of being stuck on the tarmac at Châteauroux airport, the Airbus A330-200 (registered TS-IFM) has been released by the French court. However, there's a major catch: the plane is currently unable to fly because it no longer has engines.
A Complex Legal Dispute
The Court of Appeal in Bourges has ruled in favor of the Tunisian national airline regarding the aircraft's airframe (the body of the plane). Delivered in 2015, the Airbus officially belongs to Tunisair once again. However, the court made a surprising legal distinction: the airframe is free because it belongs to Tunisair, but the two Rolls-Royce Trent engines remain seized. They are being held by the American company Lone Star Group due to unpaid maintenance bills dating back to 2018, totaling around $18.7 million.
An Aircraft "Grounded" in the True Sense
Without its engines, the TS-IFM is a giant, immobile piece of metal. For Tunisair, the headache is only just beginning. To put this aircraft back into service on its long-haul routes, the company has two expensive options: either find a financial agreement with Lone Star to recover the original engines or buy or lease new ones, which would require a massive investment and significant logistical delays.
Impact on Travelers
While waiting for a solution, Tunisair must make do with a reduced fleet. The airline is relying on its only other A330 (the TS-IFN) or leasing planes from other companies (ACMI contracts). This situation is weighing heavily on the national airline's finances, as renting planes with crew is much more expensive than operating its own machines. In short, although the bird has regained its legal freedom, it still lacks its wings to take to the skies again towards Tunis.
The court has nonetheless ordered the American company to pay compensation to Tunisair for the prolonged immobilization of the aircraft.
