Syphax Airlines (Sfax) has announced the grounding of its A319-100 fleet effective Thursday evening. According to an AFP report, a company lawyer said the airline was experiencing "financial difficulties" and that flights had been "temporarily" suspended "until solutions are found."

IATA instructed airlines and travel agencies to stop doing business with Syphax on Wednesday after the Tunisian carrier was unable to settle its dues with the industry association.

Following the terrorist attack in Sousse in June, it was forced to reduce its network of scheduled services to flights from Djerba to Paris CDG, Sfax to Jeddah International and Paris CDG, and Tunis to Paris CDG.

While for the last few weeks it has been wet-leasing one of its two A319-100s to Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Mohamed V), this contract has now ended with both aircraft now parked at Sfax airport.