Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a subsidiary of Prague Airport, detained two Czech Airlines (CSA) ATR aircraft on Tuesday due to unpaid invoices. The Smartwings aviation group, to which CSA belongs, has declared the detention of aircraft illegal and is preparing legal action.
The website informed about it Zdopravy.cz. Airlines had to cancel flights due to the situation. The carrier is currently under a protective moratorium against creditors.
CSAT performs aircraft maintenance and repairs at the airport. According to CSAT spokeswoman Kateřina Pavlíková, the airlines owe these and other services. “CSAT proceeded with the utmost caution and applied this right of retention specifically to two ATR aircraft, one of which was parked and not currently in service. We informed the airline’s management of this step and submitted possible solutions,” she said. server Pavlíková.
According to her, the carrier has not yet commented on possible solutions. At the same time, she denied that the detention could endanger CSA’s operations, the Smartwings Group owns over 40 aircraft.
However, Smartwings did not agree with the CSAT’s move and declared it illegal. “CSAT violated the principle of an extraordinary moratorium. CSAT’s actions represent unprecedented actions aimed at the liquidation of CSA, a state-controlled company,” said carrier spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková in a statement.
According to her, the carrier did not receive any warning before the detention. Subsequently, he had to cancel some regular routes on which ATR aircraft flew. “We are taking legal steps in this direction,” Dufková added. According to her, there is also a threat of international arbitration, because the planes do not belong to CSA, the airlines only operate them.
According to Smartwings, CSAT’s receivables are secured by a security transfer of the right to the aircraft engine and other technical equipment of the aircraft. According to Dufková, CSAT acquired part of the receivables through a transfer from a Czech leasing company.
Smartwings and CSA are currently under a protective moratorium against creditors. It expires at the end of February. The air group is asking for help from the state. For CSA, it wants non-repayable support of 1.1 billion crowns, without it, according to the group, the carrier is facing insolvency proceedings, because airlines are not entitled to support from other subsidy programs. The group is also asking the state for half a billion in compensation for canceled flights last spring.
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