[30/09/2023 02:29]

Aden - Saba
The Yemeni Airlines Company has demanded that the Houthis lift the illegal restrictions the militia had imposed since last March on the company's accounts and financial balances in Sana'a-based banks, which exceeded $80 million.

The company said in a statement, a copy of which was received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), “The Houthi militia’s action to prevent the the Yemenia Company from withdrawing amounts out of its financial balances in Sana’a banks is linked to illegal and unreasonable demands and justifications, and has caused severe damage to the company’s activity, and the company has faced many challenges and difficulties.”

The company reiterated commitment to the rules of humanitarian work first, and commercial work second, and the importance of neutralizing the company from political conflict, as it is the only national carrier in the country

It added, "The Yemeni company informed the demands to open Sana'a International Airport to all international destinations is not within the company's realm of authority, but that of other parties, and that the company is prepared to operate flights from Sana'a Airport to any international destination provided that it obtains international operating permits."

The Yemeni company pointed out that it had submitted a proposal to lift the Houthi restrictions on its accounts and financial balances so that the company can withdraw from them to cover the company’s operating expenses, by withdrawing 70 percent from Sana’a and 30 percent from Aden and the rest of the other regions, given that Sana’a’s sales exceed 70 percent compared to all sales regions affiliated with the company, and that the militia initially agreed to the proposal and then rejected it.

It pointed out that it tried throughout the last period to rely on its other internal resources, and restarted operations from Sana'a to Amman with three new flights, in addition to the three previous humanitarian flights, so that operation from Sana'a to Amman became almost daily as a step to show good faith, which continued until the end of this September, in light of the company not being allowed to withdraw from its balances in Sana'a, which caused severe damage to the company.

Yemenia Airlines noted in its statement that, at the end of this September, it once again received a Houthi request to operate from Sana’a, without allowing it to withdraw from its financial balances in Sana’a banks, which causes additional and significant harm to the company, and threatens to completely stop the operation from Sana’a Airport, which Houthis to continue at the expense of revenues from other airports.

The company reviewed the damage it has suffered since the outbreak of war 9 years ago, and its efforts to overcome many difficulties, as well as the company’s efforts to improve the level of its activity and services by adopting strategic plans and upgrading its fleet with a number of modern aircraft, the latest of which is preparing for two modern aircraft to enter service next October , and building hangars for maintenance and other upgrades.

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