If you are travelling to Tunisia through Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport (NBE), knowing what disabled facilities and assistance are available before you arrive can make your journey easier.
Enfidha Airport is a popular arrival point for holidaymakers visiting Hammamet, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui and other resorts along Tunisia’s coast. The airport offers assistance for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility, although the facilities and processes may be different from those you are familiar with at UK and European airports.
This guide covers disabled facilities at Enfidha Airport, including special assistance, wheelchair accessibility, accessible toilets and travelling through the airport with a hidden disability.
If you are travelling to Tunisia soon, my guide to visiting Tunisia with autistic children is a good starting point.
Quick Wins for Using Disabled Facilities at Enfidha Airport
- Book special assistance through your airline or tour operator at least 48 hours before your flight.
- Tell your airline about any mobility equipment, including wheelchairs or mobility scooters, before travelling.
- Assistance isn’t only for wheelchair users. You may be able to request support if you have a hidden disability or find navigating airports difficult.
- Allow plenty of time when departing from Enfidha Airport, particularly during busy holiday periods.
- Bring your own sensory aids, such as noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders, if you or your child finds busy airports overwhelming.
- Speak to your airline in advance if you cannot use aircraft stairs, as your flight may not always board directly from the terminal.
Special Assistance at Enfidha Airport
Passengers who require additional support when travelling through Enfidha Airport should arrange special assistance in advance. The easiest way to do this is through your airline, tour operator or travel agent. Ideally, assistance should be requested at least 48 hours before your scheduled flight.
Depending on your individual needs, assistance may include help with:
- Navigating the airport terminal
- Reaching the check-in area
- Moving through security and passport control
- Reaching the departure gate
- Boarding the aircraft
- Disembarking from the aircraft
- Using a wheelchair within the airport
When requesting assistance, explain exactly what support you require rather than simply requesting “wheelchair assistance”. Airlines use different special service request (SSR) codes to communicate passengers’ requirements to airports and ground handling teams. I have a guide which lays out all of the airline disability codes and explains what they mean so you can determine which code is best for your needs.
Providing accurate information can help ensure that the correct assistance and equipment are available.
If you are unsure what support you might need to navigate the airport, my guide to airport assistance explains what it is and the type of help you can request. I also have a guide that explains special assistance at Enfidha Airport in more detail.
One great thing that Enfidha Airport disabled assistance offer is a dedicated Disabled & Special Assistance Telephone Infoline which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact the Disabled & Special Assistance team on this number: 00 216 73 103 000
It is also worth learning about the PRM Assist app, where you can make special assistance service requests for almost every airport in the world.
Wheelchair Accessibility at Enfidha Airport
Enfidha Airport is a relatively modern airport, having opened in 2009, and the passenger terminal has been designed to accommodate large numbers of international travellers. The terminal has spacious circulation areas that can make navigating the airport easier for wheelchair and mobility aid users.
Passengers who cannot walk long distances should consider requesting wheelchair assistance in advance, even if they can independently walk shorter distances.
If you are travelling with your own wheelchair or mobility scooter, contact your airline before travelling. Airlines have different rules regarding mobility equipment, particularly powered wheelchairs and scooters containing batteries.
Accessible Toilets at Enfidha Airport
Accessible toilet facilities are available for disabled passengers travelling through the airport.
If you are using special assistance and cannot locate an accessible toilet, ask a member of the assistance team or airport staff to direct you to the nearest facility.
Travellers who require specialist changing facilities should be aware that facilities equivalent to UK Changing Places toilets may not be available. If you require an adult-sized changing bench, hoist or other specialist equipment, it is worth planning for this before travelling.
Hidden Disabilities at Enfidha Airport
Not every passenger who requires assistance has a visible disability. Passengers with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety or other non-visible conditions may find certain parts of the airport journey particularly challenging.
You can request airport assistance for a hidden disability if you need additional help navigating the airport. When making your booking, explain the type of support that would make travelling easier for you or your family member.
Unlike some UK airports, you should not rely on airport staff automatically recognising a hidden disability symbol or lanyard. It can be helpful to communicate your requirements directly with staff. You can, of course, wear the Sunflower Lanyard but it may not be as widely recognised in Tunisia as it is in Europe.
If you are travelling with a hidden disability, I have some guides which may help you plan your upcoming trips: travelling with ADHD, travelling with autism, travelling with fibromyalgia and chronic pain and travelling with allergies.
Travelling Through Enfidha Airport With an Autistic Child
Airports can be particularly challenging for autistic children due to unpredictable queues, security procedures, bright lighting, announcements and crowds. Families may find it helpful to prepare children for the different stages of travelling through Enfidha Airport before their journey.
This could include explaining that they may need to:
- Queue at check-in
- Show their passport several times
- Place belongings through an X-ray machine
- Walk through airport security
- Wait in the departure lounge
- Travel by bus to the aircraft
- Walk outside on the airport apron
- Use aircraft stairs
Bringing familiar sensory aids can also help. Depending on your child’s needs, this could include ear defenders, noise-cancelling headphones, a tablet, comfort items or small sensory toys.
If your child cannot cope with long queues or crowded environments, contact your airline before travelling to discuss whether assistance can be provided.
One thing that is important to remember for Enfidha Airport is that you cannot take Tunisian Dinar out of Tunisia. They will stop you just before security to take any Tunisian money you have left off of you and this can hold you up in another queue. Learn more about Tunisian currency restrictions in my guide so you can plan to make your airport journey as smooth as possible.
Security at Enfidha Airport
All passengers departing from Enfidha Airport must pass through airport security. Security procedures can be difficult for passengers who struggle with physical contact, instructions from unfamiliar people or having personal belongings taken away temporarily.
If you or your child has additional needs that could affect the security screening process, explain this to staff before screening begins. It can also help to prepare children in advance for the possibility that they may need to remove certain belongings and place bags and other items through the security scanner.
Boarding Your Flight at Enfidha Airport
Depending on where your aircraft is parked, boarding may involve walking to the aircraft or travelling by airport bus. Passengers who cannot climb aircraft stairs should make this clear when booking special assistance. Do not assume that every flight will board using an airbridge.
The WCHS and WCHC assistance codes are particularly important for passengers who cannot use stairs. To learn more about airport assistance codes head straight to my guide.
If you are travelling with a wheelchair or disability pushchair, ask your airline whether you can keep it until the aircraft door. Policies can vary depending on the airline and operational circumstances.
Arriving at Enfidha Airport With Special Assistance
If you have booked assistance for your arrival, assistance staff should help you disembark and navigate the airport. Depending on your requirements, this may include assistance from the aircraft through immigration and baggage reclaim and onwards towards the terminal exit.
If you are travelling with your own wheelchair, confirm with your airline where it will be returned to you. In some airports, mobility equipment may be delivered to the aircraft door, while in other situations it may be collected from baggage reclaim or a separate oversized baggage area.
Parking and Drop-Off at Enfidha Airport
Parking and vehicle drop-off areas are located outside the passenger terminal. If you are being collected by a private transfer, taxi or hotel transport, make sure the driver knows if you are travelling with a wheelchair, large mobility aid or disability pushchair. Accessible vehicles may be more difficult to arrange at short notice, so wheelchair users who require a ramp or lift-equipped vehicle should organise suitable transport before arriving in Tunisia.
Getting From Enfidha Airport to Your Hotel
Many passengers arriving at Enfidha Airport travel onwards to popular tourist destinations including Hammamet, Yasmine Hammamet, Sousse and Port El Kantaoui.
Package holiday travellers may have coach transfers included with their booking. However, standard airport transfer coaches may not be wheelchair accessible.
If you cannot climb the steps of a coach or need to remain seated in your wheelchair during transport, contact your tour operator before travelling.
Travellers arranging private transfers should also confirm accessibility directly with the transport provider rather than assuming that an “accessible” vehicle will meet their individual requirements.
Food and Waiting Areas at Enfidha Airport
Food and drink facilities are available within the airport, although the selection may be more limited than at larger international airports. We found that flying at night meant that almost everything in the airport was closed already.
If you or your child has specific dietary requirements, allergies or strong food preferences, it can be useful to carry suitable snacks for the journey, provided they comply with airport security and customs restrictions.
During busy holiday periods, departure areas can become crowded. Travellers who find noisy environments difficult may benefit from carrying ear defenders or noise-cancelling headphones.
Is There a Sensory Room at Enfidha Airport?
There does not appear to be a dedicated sensory room advertised for passengers travelling through Enfidha Airport. Autistic and sensory-sensitive travellers should therefore plan to bring any sensory equipment they may need while waiting for their flight.
If the terminal is particularly busy, you can ask airport or assistance staff whether there is a quieter place where you can wait, although this may depend on operational circumstances and cannot be guaranteed.
Tips for Disabled Travellers Using Enfidha Airport
- Booking assistance in advance is one of the most important things you can do when travelling through Enfidha Airport.
- Be specific about your requirements when speaking to your airline. If you cannot walk long distances, cannot climb stairs or require assistance to your aircraft seat, make sure this information is included in your booking.
- Travellers with hidden disabilities should also explain what support they need rather than assuming staff will recognise a particular symbol or lanyard.
- If you are travelling with an autistic child, preparing them for queues, security checks and the possibility of bus boarding can also make the airport experience more predictable.
Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport provides facilities and assistance for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility travelling to and from Tunisia. For many disabled travellers, the most important step is arranging the correct special assistance through the airline before travelling. This is particularly important if you require a wheelchair within the airport, cannot climb aircraft stairs or need additional support navigating the terminal.
Families travelling with autistic children or passengers with hidden disabilities may need to do some additional preparation, as dedicated sensory facilities and formal hidden disability schemes may be more limited than at some UK airports.
By booking assistance early, clearly communicating your requirements and planning your onward transport in advance, you can make travelling through Enfidha Airport as straightforward as possible.
If you have further questions about the disabled facilities at Enfidha Airport you can head to their disabled and special assistance information page on the airport website.
Continue Planning Your Tunisia Trip With Autistic Children
- Start at the beginning with my guide to visiting Tunisia with autistic children
- Need an easy introduction to Tunisia? Try Yasmine Hammamet with kids
- Wondering about money? Learn about the strict rules around importing and exporting money from Tunisia
- Do you need help at the airport while visiting Tunisia? Find links to all of the special assistance departments for airports in Tunisia
- Learn more about special assistance at Enfidha Airport before you travel
Continue Planning Your Africa Itinerary With Kids
- Start with planning your overall Africa family trip, including flights, pacing, transport and choosing destinations that suit your child’s needs
- Looking for easier first-time Africa destinations? Consider visiting Morocco with kids for family facilities and resort style accommodation
- Prefer beaches and slower travel? Find out more about Egypt with children for resort stays, culture and historical family days out
Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children
- Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
- Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
- Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
- Always alerted at the last minute that the little one needs a toilet? Find a toilet anywhere with this app
Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides
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