Tunisian flag carrier Tunisair's second-quarter passenger traffic fell by 7 per cent but turnover per passenger grew, helping maintain overall revenues close to last year's level, the airline said.

Revenue per passenger from scheduled and charter flights grew 3 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively in the April-June period compared with a year earlier.

Overall revenue edged down 2 per cent to 233.784 million dinars ($183.5 million) while financial costs climbed to 5.375 million dinars from 4.700 million.

The passenger load factor inched up to 69.0 per cent from 68.6 per cent.

Tunisair began restructuring in 2003 to focus on its core business and return to profitability by cutting 2,500 of its 8,000 jobs and spinning off secondary activities.

It plans to invest more than 621 million dinars to expand its fleet to 25 planes by 2011 from 20 now.