SM Mizanur Rahman :
The national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines and two other private airlines have failed to pay over Tk 1,316 crore to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) within the deadline.
In August last year, the Civil Aviation Ministry had asked the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the two private airlines-United Airways (BD) Ltd and Regent Airways-to clear all dues of embarkation fee within the next six months and to pay current bill regularly, says a highly placed source in the ministry.
Of the dues, Biman owed Tk 1,190.65 crore, United Airways Tk 100.83 crore and Regent Airways Taka 25.23 crore to the CAAB till date, said the source.
An official of CAAB told The New Nation on Sunday that Biman and the two private airlines have not taken any initiative to clear the dues of embarkation fee in the last six months and also payment of current bill regularly. The charge includes aeronautical, landing, route navigation, parking, security and surcharges.
“We have been repeatedly asking the three airlines to repay their dues since long. But they are not paying any heed to our call,” the official said. He said, Biman owed Tk 507.13 crore as charge and
Tk 683.51 crore as surcharge, the United Airways Tk 48.48 core as charge and Taka 32.34 as surcharge, and the Regent Airways Tk 19.51 crore as charge and Tk 5.88 core as surcharge to CAAB respectively.”
Earlier in August in 2014, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon had asked all the airlines, including the state-run one, to repay all dues in order to smooth growth of aviation sector. Otherwise, he said, the airlines would have to face operational suspension.
On Sunday, when contacted Rashed Khan Menon told The New Nation that they had taken the issue seriously and would take necessary steps in this regard.
“As the airlines failed to clear their dues within the six months deadline, we will not sit idle. We will take necessary steps immediately. I have asked the all airlines to be cordial in repaying the dues on time,” he said.
Talking to The New Nation, Khan Musharraf Hussein, general manager, public relations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said Biman couldn’t pay its dues to the CAAB mainly because of its financial problems, caused due to its huge operating losses.
He, however, added that when Biman starts becoming a profit making organization, it would pay all outstanding bills.
“We are going to resume flight operation on domestic routes immediately. We expect that passengers would like to fly state-run aircraft for reaching their domestic and foreign destinations. And then we will be able to make Biman a profitable organisation,” said another Biman official.
Biman sources said, the government had taken moves on several times to settle the arrears issue but it failed as Biman is still a loss making organisation.
Talking to this reporter, Md Kamrul Islam, deputy general manager of United Airways said they are incurring crores of taka losses as they have no space for construction of hanger.
“As we have to conduct the C-Cheek from abroad, more money and time are being wasted. We have demanded to reduce the aeronautical and non-aeronautical charge,” he added.
Kamrul Islam said private airlines are now facing difficulties in operating their aircraft, especially on international routes, as what he said due to excess aeronautical charge by ‘CAAB’.
He said when a domestic flight lands at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, CAAB demands Tk 2,403 but if the same aircraft lands at any airport in the country from any other foreign destinations, CAAB charges Tk 33,924.
“We are frequently requesting the CAAB to reduce the charge for local companies. It will help them make business sustainable in current competitive situation,” he said.
The official said it has been found that almost every country provides concession and adopts flexible policy to expand their local airlines business.
The national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines and two other private airlines have failed to pay over Tk 1,316 crore to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) within the deadline.
In August last year, the Civil Aviation Ministry had asked the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the two private airlines-United Airways (BD) Ltd and Regent Airways-to clear all dues of embarkation fee within the next six months and to pay current bill regularly, says a highly placed source in the ministry.
Of the dues, Biman owed Tk 1,190.65 crore, United Airways Tk 100.83 crore and Regent Airways Taka 25.23 crore to the CAAB till date, said the source.
An official of CAAB told The New Nation on Sunday that Biman and the two private airlines have not taken any initiative to clear the dues of embarkation fee in the last six months and also payment of current bill regularly. The charge includes aeronautical, landing, route navigation, parking, security and surcharges.
“We have been repeatedly asking the three airlines to repay their dues since long. But they are not paying any heed to our call,” the official said. He said, Biman owed Tk 507.13 crore as charge and
Tk 683.51 crore as surcharge, the United Airways Tk 48.48 core as charge and Taka 32.34 as surcharge, and the Regent Airways Tk 19.51 crore as charge and Tk 5.88 core as surcharge to CAAB respectively.”
Earlier in August in 2014, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon had asked all the airlines, including the state-run one, to repay all dues in order to smooth growth of aviation sector. Otherwise, he said, the airlines would have to face operational suspension.
On Sunday, when contacted Rashed Khan Menon told The New Nation that they had taken the issue seriously and would take necessary steps in this regard.
“As the airlines failed to clear their dues within the six months deadline, we will not sit idle. We will take necessary steps immediately. I have asked the all airlines to be cordial in repaying the dues on time,” he said.
Talking to The New Nation, Khan Musharraf Hussein, general manager, public relations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said Biman couldn’t pay its dues to the CAAB mainly because of its financial problems, caused due to its huge operating losses.
He, however, added that when Biman starts becoming a profit making organization, it would pay all outstanding bills.
“We are going to resume flight operation on domestic routes immediately. We expect that passengers would like to fly state-run aircraft for reaching their domestic and foreign destinations. And then we will be able to make Biman a profitable organisation,” said another Biman official.
Biman sources said, the government had taken moves on several times to settle the arrears issue but it failed as Biman is still a loss making organisation.
Talking to this reporter, Md Kamrul Islam, deputy general manager of United Airways said they are incurring crores of taka losses as they have no space for construction of hanger.
“As we have to conduct the C-Cheek from abroad, more money and time are being wasted. We have demanded to reduce the aeronautical and non-aeronautical charge,” he added.
Kamrul Islam said private airlines are now facing difficulties in operating their aircraft, especially on international routes, as what he said due to excess aeronautical charge by ‘CAAB’.
He said when a domestic flight lands at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, CAAB demands Tk 2,403 but if the same aircraft lands at any airport in the country from any other foreign destinations, CAAB charges Tk 33,924.
“We are frequently requesting the CAAB to reduce the charge for local companies. It will help them make business sustainable in current competitive situation,” he said.
The official said it has been found that almost every country provides concession and adopts flexible policy to expand their local airlines business.
