SCOTS could be offered cut price holiday deals to North Africa.

A tour operator plans to take on holiday giants Thomson and Thomas Cook by offering sunshine breaks to Tunisia, if trial flights from Glasgow prove a success.

Speculation of a summer price war has been triggered by the revelation that Just Sunshine wants to tempt more tourists to the African country, which boasts the Sahara desert and 810 miles of coastline.

The tour operator is in prime position to challenge the dominance of Thomas Cook and Thomson which already offer regular summer flights out of Glasgow. Thomas Cook has a twice weekly service while Thom-son offers a weekly flight.

Just Sunshine is part of the El Mouradi Group, one of Tunisia's biggest companies and includes the country's largest hotel chain.

Just Sunshine currently offers British tourists a choice of more than 120 El Mouradi hotels in seven resorts and has teamed up with Tunisia-based Syphax Airlines which plans to test the market by launching three flights in the summer.

The first takes off on June 29, with the others on July 6 and 13.

If the three flights are money makers then regular flights out of Glasgow are planned for next year's summer holiday season which runs from April to October.

Bosses at Just Sunshine are quietly confident.

They have been planning their Glasgow trial for almost two years with regular talks with trade organisations.

National sales manager Tony Blakey said: "We have been working closely with the local travel trade over the course of the past 18 months and it is clear there is demand for charter services to Tunisia from Glasgow.

"We are looking forward to arriving at Glasgow Airport in June and it is our intention to expand our service in 2014.

"We have been operating holidays to Tunisia for more than seven years and have a strong track record in providing tailored packages so we're confident the service will prove successful."

Francois Bourienne, commercial director at Glasgow Airport, said: "Just Sunshine is a welcome addition to our busy summer schedule.

"Tunisia has grown in popularity with holiday-makers and the tour operator's arrival is great news for Glasgow Airport as it will provide our customers with even greater choice."

Once known as the "bread basket" of ancient Rome, the African country has a population of more than seven million and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east, with beaches and water sports, while Algeria lies to the west and Libya to the south.

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk