Bahrain Air, a leading low-cost carrier in the region, has been warned to pay off its debts or risk suspension of its operations, its chairman said.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa added that the airline was under pressure from Transportation Minister Kamal Ahmed to pay off its dues accumulated since last year’s unrest.
In a statement to local newspapers, Shaikh Mohammed also claimed that the airline had not been given necessary approvals for extra flights, according to our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

The ministry, meanwhile, emphasised its keenness to protect public funds and collect all dues in accordance with the country’s constitution, laws and Cabinet decisions.

“The company did not meet its overdue obligations. It also has not paid departure fees that it collected (from passengers) on behalf of the government, for a long time,” the statement said.

Bahrain News Agency quoted the ministry as saying that it had given the company an opportunity to reschedule its debts in March until the end of the year, provided that it paid the departure fees immediately. But the ministry said it did not receive any positive response from the airline. – TradeArabia News Service