Government involvement with the Houthis in looting Yemeni airspace transit fees: sources
Informed sources in the capital, Sanaa, revealed that the decision to operate flights in Yemeni airspace and operate internal airports is still in the hands of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which is controlled by the Houthis, in light of the Yemeni government's failure to transfer the powers of air navigation and the operation of airports.
Despite the transfer of the General Authority of Civil Aviation to Aden more than six years ago, a number of jobs are still in the hands of the Houthis, including the management of permits and licenses for landing, take-off and transit of aircraft within the region of Yemen, as well as the region's center that provides a monitoring service for the area. The sources told Khabar Agency.
The Houthis collect airspace transit fees and use them to buy weapons and military equipments, because airlines supply these amounts to the authority’s accounts abroad, and this makes them not obliged to send money from inside, but rather cover the purchase of these materials from their accounts abroad. The sources added.
The amount paid by international airlines as fees for their passage in Yemeni airspace amounted to more than $437 million from 2016 until 2021. Government leaders in Aden receive commissions in return for the organization’s external accounts remaining at the disposal of the Houthi militia in Sana’a. According to the sources.