Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, is yet to pay Tk 368 crore to Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) for using the domestic airports.
The airlines is using all the country’s airports and taking all types of facilities without paying its outstanding dues to CAAB, CAAB officials said.The CAAB, in a report submitted in 33rd meeting of the public accounts committee of the parliament, showed that Biman had not paid Tk 368 crore till April.
Out of the Tk 368 crore due, Tk 272 crore is for aeronautical and Tk 97 crore for non-aeronautical fees. The committee ordered Biman to pay its outstanding fees to CAAB.
Biman managing director and chief executive officer, Kevin Steele, told New Age that Biman has not been paying the arrears over many years.
But he expected that Biman would start to pay the outstanding amounts as soon as possible.
Kevin said, ‘We met the CAAB chairman and agreed to pay the arrears’.
‘We will pay all current non-aeronautical charges and also clear the previous arrears shortly’, he added.
The Biman MD said, ‘Our two financial directors will meet with CAAB officials to talk about aeronautical dues which will also be paid shortly’.
He also said that the overall situation is giving an impression that after paying all outstanding amounts, Biman will not be profitable till 2014-15 and it may take a little longer to be profitable.
All airlines, both national and international, pay two kinds of fees to the civil aviation authority —aeronautical fees for landing and taking off and non-aeronautical fees for accessing hangar and parking facilities.
Moreover, airlines have to pay the fees of aircraft safety and security, departure and arrival lounges for passengers and counter fees. The fees of departure and arrival lounges for passengers and counter fees are always fixed but the aeronautical fees depend on the size and weight of the aircraft.
CAAB conducts the maintenance, safety and security and development of the airports with the aeronautical and non-aeronautical fees that they receive from the airlines.
The civil aviation authority has repeatedly sent letters to Biman and had meetings with them regarding the payment of dues.
The dues are also unpaid for using Shahjalal, Shah Amanat, Osmani and Cox’s Bazar airports.
On the other hand, Biman suspended its operation on four domestic routes including Jessore, Syedpur, Shah Makhdum and Barisal on September 16 in 2012.
CAAB officials said that if Biman would not suspend its operation on these domestic routes, the arrears would be more than Tk 368 crore.
-With New Age input
