Early years

Air Tunisie had its origins in late 1948, when Compagnie Aérienne Française (CAF) and the Tunisian government jointly established the airline with an initial capital investment of FRF 60 million; both parties held their own 35% shares in the company while the remaining 30% would be held by other investors. Its initial fleet of Douglas DC-3 aircraft would be inherited from CAF along with its nascent route network, which included passenger routes from Tunis to Algiers (via Bone), Tunis to Nice (via Ajaccio or Bastia), and Tunis to Rome as well as a cargo flight from Tunis to Marseille. Operations commenced on 1 April 1949 with Rene Lefevre serving as the company's first managing director.

During the early 1950s, Air Tunisie expanded its route network along the northern coast of Africa. Service to Casablanca, Ghudamis, and Sabhah (via Tripoli) was launched in 1951; the Sabhah service would be rerouted via Sfax and Djerba in September that year. The Ghudamis route was terminated in 1952, and the Casablanca route would be ceded to Air France that same year. The Marseille route was extended to Paris in 1953.

By 1955 Air Tunisie's fleet consisted of three Douglas DC-3s, one Douglas DC-4 leased from Air France, and one SNCASE Languedoc. Its revenue for that year totalled £620,000 whilst expenses added up to £550,000. In 1957 the Tunisian government increased its stake in Air Tunisie to 51% and became the airline's largest shareholder. At the same time, CAF reduced its own stake to 15%.

Registration: F-BAXV