Air Navigation Debt Disputed
The Georgian Economy Ministry said a debt for navigation services provided by Russia to Georgian air carriers should be split between and repaid by two companies, Georgian Airways and Georgian National Airlines, Tbilisi-based Mze TV’s business news program reported on February 27.
The Georgian and Russian sides signed a protocol this month in Moscow under which Tbilisi has undertaken to repay the debt owed by Georgian air carriers, which are no longer operate. Russia said that direct air traffic between the two countries would resume after the debt was repaid. The debt reportedly is USD 3 million; the Economy Ministry, however, refuses to reveal the figure at this stage, saying that talks are still underway.
Although Georgian Airways said it had nothing to do with the debt accumulated by other companies, it was ready to repay part of it. “Legally we are not obliged to do that but we are ready to repay part of this debt out of patriotism, because the resumption of direct flights is very important for the country, as well as for our company,” Nino Giorgobiani, a spokesperson for Georgian Airways, told Mze TV on February 27. She declined to specify the figure the company was going to pay.
She, however, also stressed that another Georgian air carrier, National Airlines, should also share the burden and repay USD 561,000.
Giorgi Kodua, director-general of Georgian National Airlines, however, told Mze TV that his company was not obliged and had no intention to repay a debt accrued by other companies.
