South African Airways contests Zimbabwean 'weather fees'

SAA A330-200

South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has refused to pay almost USD900,000 in 'meteorological weather fees' to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, saying that the legal basis of the fee is non-existent. SAA has refused to pay the fees – applicable for using Harare Int'l and Victoria Falls – since 2006, reports News Day.

SAA's claim is that it has already paid the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) a 'meteorological service charge', making the Ministry fee a duplication. It has accused the two organisations of failing to communicate with one another.

According to the Fees page on its website, CAAZ imposes a 'meteorological service charge' of between USD5 and USD35 for all aircraft using its airports, dependent on size and routing of aircraft. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Act of 2003 allows the Meteorological Services Department to recover costs for the provision of "aeronautical services to the aviation industry at all airports".

The CAAZ has come out in support of the Ministry's case against the airline saying that SAA had "steadfastly refused" to pay its dues. CAAZ asserted that it was the collecting agent for the fees on behalf of the Ministry, where they were clearly labelled 'met-fees' as opposed to its own 'aeronautical fees'. A hearing date has not been set.

Source: https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/56670-south-african-airways-contests-zimbabwean-weather-fees

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