South Supreme Airlines suspend operations

Formerly Feeder Airlines, the airline has said that it has had to cease operations as the South Sudanese banks could not provide enough foreign currency for the move.

This is denied by the Bank of South Sudan, who claims it denied the airline access to GBP Pounds Sterling held with the Ivory Bank, meaning the airline could not pay aircraft insurance premiums, staff wages, and MRO dues.

Radio Tamazuj quoted CEO Ayii Duang Ayii: “The pilots and engineers are paid in dollar. They have gone unpaid since the last six months because they are foreigners, they are not South Sudanese. The international insurance of the company needs to be paid in dollars, and we couldn’t transfer the money. So the aircraft will not be allowed to fly.”

Duang Ayii suggested the airline may be able to resume operations if there are enough locals able to pay for flights in hard currency instead of South Sudanese Pounds.