Tunisia flag carrier Tunisair's revenue rose 12 percent in the first three months this year from the same period last year on strong passenger traffic and lower financial costs, it said.

Its revenue stood at 161.19 million dinars ($140 million) for the period, up from 144.19 million dinars a year earlier, as passenger traffic rose 8 percent, the airline added in a statement posted on Tunis bourse Web site.

The company trimmed its financial costs to 4.83 million  dinars for the first quarter this year from 5.89 million dinars a year ago, it added.

Tunisair has begun a restructuring plan in 2003 to focus on its core business and return to profitability by cutting 2,500 out of some 8,000 jobs and spinning off secondary activities.

The load factor inched up to 64.5 percent of capacity from 64 percent while turnover from scheduled and charter flights grew 2 percent and 3.5 percent respectively in the quarter.

Tunisia national airline plans to invest more than 621 million dinars to expand its fleet to 25 aircraft from 20 by 2011. - Reuters