KATHMANDU, Jan 9: Air Asia X, which had promised to pay Rs 100 million it owed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), paid only Rs 13 million on Monday.

The airlines company owes a huge debt to CAAN in services charges including passengers service charge, airport development fee, landing, parking fees as well as the fees for using navigational equipment.

After the payment, the Malaysia-based airline still owes Rs 197 million to CAAN. 

“Air Asia paid just a fraction of the amount it had promised to pay us. The airline is yet to pay Rs 197 million,” said a senior official at Tribhuvan International Airport, adding, “We summoned the general sales agent of the airline in Nepal, Hari Man Lama, who is also the operator of Incentives Tours and Travels, to sign in a commitment letter on Monday.”

According to the official, Air Asia X has expressed commitment to clear all its outstanding dues by the end of February. However, during the meeting with the TIA official, Lama had expressed commitment to settle all its dues within the next 15 days. 

Earlier, CAAN had sent a letter to Air Asia X , warning to halt its flights to Nepal, if it did not settle the dues of Rs 230 million by January 7. On Sunday, the airline had paid Rs 20 million, while informing TIA to pay additional Rs 100 million on Monday.

Various airlines companies have started paying their dues to CAAN after the aviation regulatory body in Nepal formed a probe committee to investigate into the amounts owed by various airlines and started follow up repeatedly in the cases to settle their due amounts. CAAN is yet to recover over  Rs 1.35 billion from various airlines.

 
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