The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the amount of airline funds for repatriation being blocked by governments has risen by more than 25% ($394 million) in the last six months. Total funds blocked now tally at close to $2.0 billion. IATA calls on governments to remove all barriers to airlines repatriating their revenues from ticket sales and other activities, in line with international agreements and treaty obligations.
IATA is also renewing its calls on Venezuela to settle the $3.8 billion of airline funds that have been blocked from repatriation since 2016 when the last authorization for limited repatriation of funds was allowed by the Venezuelan government.
"Verhënnere vu Fluchgesellschafte vu Fongen zréckzebréngen kann schéngen en einfache Wee ze sinn fir ausgeräiften Schatzkammeren z'ënnerstëtzen, awer schlussendlech wäert d'lokal Wirtschaft en héije Präis bezuelen. Kee Geschäft kann Service ubidden wa se net bezuelt kënne kréien an dëst ass net anescht fir Fluchgesellschaften. Loftverbindunge sinn e wesentleche wirtschaftleche Katalysator. Déi effizient Rapatriatioun vun Akommes z'erméiglechen ass kritesch fir all Wirtschaft fir weltwäit verbonne mat Mäert a Versuergungsketten ze bleiwen", sot de Willie Walsh, IATA Generaldirekter.
Airline Fongen ginn aus Rapatriement a méi wéi 27 Länner an Territoiren blockéiert.
Déi Top fënnef Mäert mat blockéierte Fongen (ausser Venezuela) sinn:
• Nigeria: $551 million
• Pakistan: $225 million
• Bangladesh: $208 million
• Lebanon: $144 million
• Algeria: $140 million
Nigeria
Total Airline Fongen blockéiert vun Rapatriement an Nigeria sinn $ 551 Milliounen. Rapatriatiounsprobleemer sinn am Mäerz 2020 entstanen wéi d'Nofro fir auslännesch Währung am Land d'Versuergung iwwerschratt huet an d'Banke vum Land net fäeg waren Währungsrepatriatiounen ze déngen.
Trotz dësen Erausfuerderunge sinn d'Nigerian Autoritéite mat de Fluchgesellschaften engagéiert a schaffen, zesumme mat der Industrie, fir Moossnamen ze fannen fir d'Fongen ze befreien.
“Nigeria is an example of how government-industry engagement can resolve blocked funds issues. Working with the Nigerian House of Representatives, Central Bank and the Minister of Aviation resulted in the release of $120 million for repatriation with the promise of a further release at the end of 2022. This encouraging progress demonstrates that, even in difficult circumstances, solutions can be found to clear blocked funds and ensure vital connectivity,” said Kamil Al-Awadhi as Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.
Venezuela
Airlines have also restarted efforts to recover the $3.8 billion of unrepatriated airline revenues in Venezuela. There have been no approvals of repatriation of these airline funds since early 2016 and connectivity to Venezuela has dwindled to a handful of airlines selling tickets primarily outside the country. In fact, between 2016 and 2019 (the last normal year before COVID-19) connectivity to/from Venezuela plummeted by 62%. Venezuela is now looking to bolster tourism as part of its COVID-19 economic recovery plan and is seeking airlines to restart or expand air services to/from Venezuela. Success will be much more likely if Venezuela is able to instill confidence in the market by expeditiously settling past debts and providing concrete assurances that airlines will not face any blockages to future repatriation of funds.
