NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Airlines for America (A4A), which represents major passenger and cargo carriers, says it will pursue all available remedies to challenge Bahamian aviation charges, including a proposed fee for weather services.
“A4A member airlines have long questioned the legitimacy of overflight charges imposed by the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA) for air navigation services that are already provided by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). We now have strong objections to a new unjustified fee the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network Ltd (BACSWN) proposes to charge carriers for a service that is not being provided,” A4A said in a statement.
“Aviation charges should only be paid for services actually provided to users. The charges should be non-discriminatory, transparent and cover the true cost of providing the service.
“Under no circumstances should aviation charges result in users being charged twice for the same service.”
The objection follows warnings from Bahamian aviation operators about fees proposed under an agreement with BACSWN signed last year. An earlier proposal outlined a $775 charge for each flight using Bahamian airspace, with $225 identified for BACSWN’s meteorological services, although BACSWN subsequently indicated its share could be lower without providing a revised figure. Operators have warned that a charge applied per flight could weigh most heavily on smaller aircraft serving the Family Islands, raising fares and charter costs and affecting tourism and the cost of moving goods. The proposed figures have not been presented as a final fee schedule.
“Neither BACSWN’s proposed meteorological fee nor BANSA’s charges for air navigation services relate to services these entities actually provide carriers. These astronomical charges are inconsistent with Article 15 of the Chicago Convention and ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Navigation Services and Article 10 of the U.S.-Bahamas Air Transport Agreement,” A4A said.
“A4A will continue to collaborate with the U.S. government and pursue all available remedies to challenge any unjustified, unreasonable, excessive, duplicative or discriminatory charges imposed on U.S. carriers operating through Bahamian airspace.”
A4A’s members include Alaska Air, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Federal Express, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS and Air Canada.
