Aviation Management

The management of aviation and associated services had been regulated under Minister of Transport Decision No. KM 81 of 2004. However, recent developments in the aviation sector require that the Decision be updated and perfected. The new Regulation, No. KM 25 of 2008 also endeavors to ensure that the quality of services in the aviation sector are improved to acceptable standards.

The Regulation covers both commercial and non-commercial aviation and stipulates the licensing requirements in detail, including the numbers of aircraft required and the maximum and minimum percentages on the various routes depending on traffic volume. For example, a high volume route requires that the annual average of passengers on that route exceeds 1 million people whereas in contrast a low volume route is one that attracts less than 100,000 passengers annually.

There are specific provisions that regulate applications for the purposes of adding capacity to certain routes based on the percentage of capacity already in use.

Ticketing is also specifically regulated. The provisions cover not only the type of information required to be printed on a ticket but also associated documentation such as boarding passes and the sale of tickets at terminals.

The Regulation explicitly sets out provisions with respect to the obligations on commercial aviation companies with regard to cancelled and delayed flights. Where the operator is responsible for any cancellation or delay, compensation is payable to those passengers affected by the cancellation or delay.

Where a flight is delayed between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, the operator is required to provide light refreshments. For delays of 90 minutes to 180 minutes, the operator is required to provide light refreshments or meals depending on the time of day. For delays of this length the operator is also required to move passengers, who demand it, to the next flight or to the flight of another operator. Where a flight is cancelled, accommodation is to be provided at the request of the passenger.

Any delay must be announced at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

The Regulation has been in force since 25 June 2008.