Tunisia's Syphax in $600m deal to buy 10 Airbus A320s

(CARTHAGE) - Private Tunisian airline Syphax said on Tuesday it has signed an accord with European planemaker Airbus to acquire 10 of its A320 aircraft between 2015 and 2020 in a deal worth $600 million.

"We have just signed two partnership accords with Safran and Airbus. With Airbus, this is for the acquisition of 10 (A320) planes," said the group's CEO Mohamed Frikha.

"It is a long-term contract worth around 600 million dollars" and covering the period from 2015 to 2020, he added.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the first meeting of the Tunisia-EU economic consultative council, which took place in a Tunis suburb in the presence of the European Commissioner for industry Antonio Tajani.

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and President Moncef Marzouki are due to meet the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, later on Tuesday.

Syphax was launched shortly after the revolution that toppled former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali two years ago, and serves destinations in France, Libya and Turkey.

The EU is the largest trade partner of the north African country, whose economic recovery, after the recession that followed the revolution, has been hampered by the broader economic crisis in Europe.