South Sudan: Fares for domestic and international flights will increase.

Domestic and international flights are expected to rise owing to an increase in navigational service costs, putting the sky out of reach.

This came after the government and a private firm signed a deal to oversee and operate aviation traffic at Juba International Airport (JIA).

According to aviation sources at the airport, the increase is because of strong demand for landing fees, security, and passenger taxes, among other things, that commercial aircraft operating in the nation must pay to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

When asked for a response, David Subek Dada stated, “For us, we require prompt payment from the air operators as soon as possible for navigation services.” These services include improving airspace safety, educating air traffic controllers, and improving the country’s network communication infrastructure.

Dada, the Director-General and CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority, verified the information in a phone interview yesterday, adding that they were in contact with airline firms to address the new development.

“That information is correct, but if there is an increase, it will be small, and airlines should not overstate it.

This is due to the Civil Aviation Authority’s standard processes for improving our navigational service system. “Every aviation operator will have to pay something,” Dada said.

“The suggestion is not only from our heads; it is based on standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and there is a formula for calculating this increase,” he said.

He urged the public not to worry and cautioned airline operators against overcharging, particularly for items that will be added to customers’ tickets later.

International planes had already begun to pay navigational costs, he said, adding that only local airlines were protesting.

“Some of them have already begun paying; the complaints are only from local air operators,” he said, “but foreign air carriers are well informed and know this is within CAA’s authority to demand such navigational costs.”

South Sudan’s government inked a contract with Navpass, an airspace management firm, in March 2021 to build ground infrastructure to improve aviation traffic and increase income from navigation services.

Using Navpass’s automated technology, the government will be able to obtain additional income, something it was previously unable to do. The skies are anticipated to produce tens of millions of dollars each year once they are completely recovered.

Navpass is an international airspace management expert business that is presently working in a number of African nations, helping to apply ICAO and IATA standards to enhance airspace.