Dhaka, June 30 (The Daily Star): The High Court yesterday
cleared the way for United Airways to operate flights for the next one month,
after the civil aviation authority allegedly refused to renew the private
airline's licence.
In a letter on June 26, the Civil Aviation Authority of
Bangladesh (Caab) said it would not renew United Airways' Air Operator's
Licence (AOC), due to expire on June 29, due to arrears of Tk 84.19 crore and
detection of safety flaws during inspections.
In response, Tasbirul Ahmed Chowdhury, the airline's
managing director, filed a writ petition with the court challenging the
legality of Caab's decision.
The court directed Caab not to create any obstacle in
operating flights of the airline and ordered the renewal of its AOC and
Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO), two licences required for flight
operation.
Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Akram Hossain
Chowdhury also issued a rule upon the government to explain in four weeks why
Caab's decision should not be declared illegal.
The civil aviation secretary, Caab chairman and its
director (flight safety) have been made respondents to the rule, the
petitioner's lawyer Ragib Rouf Chowdhury told The Daily Star.
Caab at a meeting on April 6 instructed the carrier to
pay Tk 5 crore outstanding charges in three instalments along with all current
dues by June 15.
The regulator had also ordered United to submit a plan
with payment dates and amounts to pay the rest of the dues by June next year.
The airline did not fully comply with the conditions,
according to Caab.
United on different occasions, however, disagreed the
amount of outstanding arrears.
The petitioner's lawyer said the airport charge and
interest imposed by Caab in its June 26 letter is “unreasonable”, since the
airline has been requesting Caab to wave the interest rate.
“United Airways operates 11 aircrafts to 18 destinations
and the passengers of the flights have already bought tickets for their
journey. If the flights are suspended, the passengers will suffer,” he added in
the petition.