Several carriers paid Rs 568 million
KATHMANDU, Dec 26: Around a dozen international airlines operating flights to Nepal owe the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) around Rs 1.35 billion in various services including passengers service charge, air development fee, landing, parking and the fees involving the use of navigational equipment. *
Though a dozen of airlines responded to the call, around a dozen more international airlines are yet to pay the amount worth Rs 1.35 billion, according to CAAN Deputy Director General Birendra Shrestha.
On November 23, Republica had carried a story about the international airlines which had flouted CAAN's repeated calls to pay the overdue amount. Many airlines had refuted the reports saying they had already paid the dues. But none of the concerned companies came forth with substantial proof.
Int'l airlines owe TIA Rs 2.5 billion for services
"We had directed the airlines companies to pay the overdue amount within mid-December after it was found that many of them were yet to settle the outstanding charges," CAAN Deputy Director General Shrestha told Republica.
CAAN had formed a probe committee under Shrestha to find out the reason behind the delay in payment. In a report submitted to CAAN Director General Sanjiv Gautam, the committee had recommended to the TIA to suspend the operation of the concerned airlines if they failed to pay the overdue amount within mid-December.
The report found out that the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines has paid Rs 102.8 million. The airlines is yet to pay Rs 320.42 million. Similarly, Air Asia has paid Rs 93 million, while the company is yet to pay Rs 116.9 million. Similarly, Turkish Airlines has paid Rs 20.8 million and remains to pay Rs 18.8 million.
Fly Dubai has settled all outstanding dues amounting to Rs 24.4 million. Himalaya Airlines has also cleared all the fees worth Rs 26 million, while Oman Air has paid Rs 10.7 million out of Rs 11.7 million.
Malindo Air has paid Rs 13 million out of Rs 21.2 million. Air Arabia has paid Rs 9.7 million of the Rs 12.1 million it owes. Korean Air has paid Rs 3.6 million out of Rs 4.7 million. Indigo Airlines has paid Rs 8.8 million out of Rs 11.6 million. Thai Airways has paid Rs 6.8 million out of Rs 13.1, while Cathay Dragon Air has settled Rs 4.4 million out of Rs 7.6 million. Silk Air has paid Rs 1.4 million out of Rs 4.2 million, while Bhutan Airlines has paid Rs 1 million out of overdue fee worth Rs 2.2 million.
CAAN has stated that around a dozen airlines are yet to settle the dues. They include Air India, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Etihad Airways, Sichuan Air. None of the aforementioned airlines except Korean Air and Fly Dubai could be reached for comments.
"We have settled all the dues except the running dues. TIA should first give us invoice to let us know how much we have to pay now," said Parasar Prasain, managing director of Universal Travels which look after Nepal operation of Korean Air and Fly Dubai.
Nepal's aviation market is worth nearly Rs 100 billion. The share of national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), however, is only around 10 percent.
According to the Airport Service Charge Regulations-2067 BS, it is the responsibility of the airport chief to collect service charges from the airlines. If any airline fails to pay such service charge within 60 days of the expiry of prescribed timeframe, the airport chief can order such airlines to stop flying to Nepal, according to the regulations.
*Amended for clarity
