Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, has taken quasi-defunct Angolan operator Diexim Expresso Aviaçao (Luanda) to court over ZAR395,552 (USD27,435) worth of unpaid parking fees.
According to Gauteng High Court papers seen by the Pretoria News, the charges pertain to a trio of aircraft – two EMB-120s, D2-FFU (cn 120244) and D2-FFY (cn 120171), and one ERJ-145, D2-FFW (cn 145360) – all of which have been parked at the airfield since July of last year.
After repeat attempts at getting the Angolans to settle their bill failed, Lanseria claims it forced to secure an attachment order for the aircraft back in May.
However, Bartolomeu Dias Domingos, the CEO of DEA’s parent firm Grupo Bartolomeu Dias, has denied owing the airport anything. In DEA’s defense, he claims Lanseria was contracted, and duly paid, to carry out unspecified MRO work on the three aircraft. However, for unclear reasons, Lanseria then sub-contracted the work out to another firm.
As it stands, Lanseria has refused to release the aircraft until all outstanding fees have been settled.
A future court date has yet to be set.
Source: ch-aviation.com
