Venezuela owes $3.7 billion in payments to int’l airlines: IATAJune 9, 2015 - 15:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuela must take steps to resolve an impasse that has held up $3.7 billion in payments to international airlines, the head of a major airline industry group said Monday, June 8 according to AFP. "This is unacceptable," said Tony Tyler, director general of the International Air Transport Association, adding that the money was generated from ticket sales and Venezuela is violating international treaties by withholding it. In Venezuela, airlines are required to sell tickets in bolivars (VEF) under an arrangement in which the government later converts the local currency to dollars. However, the exchange rate varies wildly, and "airlines are forced to sell tickets using an exchange rate of 12 VEF to the USD and make payments such as those for airport use at a floating rate that currently stands at 199 VEF per USD," the IATA said in a statement. The IATA urged Venezuela to establish a "single and fair bolivar (VEF) exchange rate for the sale of tickets and for the payment of airline fees and charges." The association also asked Venezuela to establish a realistic payment schedule to the airlines and consult with industry "before imposing any new taxes or regulations that affect airlines." Some airlines have scaled back operations in Venezuela due to the government's policies, and airline passengers have suffered from lack of flights. The IATA said no payments have been made to the airlines since October, running up a $3.7 billion backlog. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |