Speaking in a television interview, Enver Bijedić, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Minister for Transport and Communication, blamed Turkish Airlines (THY) for the problems experienced by national carrier B&H Airlines, which posted a loss of €2 million last year. THY relinquished its 49% stake in the airline two years ago and since then, B&H has faltered.
He said: “B&H was used a guinea pig by Turkish to test the market. In early 2012 the Turkish management ceased payments on loans for the financial lease of two ATR72 aircraft.” The airline was unable to pay the loans leading to the grounded of those aircraft for several months.
He added: They launched the wrong routes. A total of ten new services were launched and ten were cancelled. As a result, B&H incurred a loss of some half a million euros. The Turks lied to us”.
Minister Bijedić also noted that seven pilots have recently left, which has caused a major problem for the airline.
THY has not responded to the harsh public criticism leveled by Bijedić.
B&H Airlines’ Acting CEO Amir Jažić also stated that his carrier cannot compete against THY on routes to Istanbul and the airline is also affected by bilateral aviation agreements between Bosnia and Turkey that, he says, give Turkey an unfair advantage in commercial operations.
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