Blue Air’s announcement wreaked havoc at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport after travelers found their flights had been canceled.
Romania’s Ministry of the Environment, through the Environmental Fund Administration, had seized Blue Air’s accounts because the company allegedly failed to pay greenhouse gas certificates which are mandatory for the aviation industry.
Environment Minister Tanczos Barna confirmed the blocking of Blue Air’s accounts by the Environmental Fund Administration for a debt of RON28 million but refused to unblock the airline’s accounts, as requested by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. Tanczos Barna pointed out that Blue Air must resume flights immediately and must ask the Environmental Fund Administration to reschedule its debts.
“The accounts were blocked by the Environmental Fund Administration because Blue Air is in enforcement proceedings, which is why the claim was recovered. The decision to suspend flights is unjustified. Blocking accounts does not justify grounding flights. I demand that Blue Air resume flights immediately and honor its obligations to customers. Blue Air must ask the Environmental Fund Administration to reschedule its debts. Blue Air did not abide by the law,” stated the minister.
On the other hand, Blue Air accuses Horia Constantinescu, the president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection, that his statements caused passengers to lose their trust in Blue Air, generating losses of over EUR5 million by reducing the volume of ticket sales. Blue Air also claims that Constantinescu’s statements allegedly led to increased pressure from key suppliers to pay in advance the amounts necessary for daily operations, as well as blocking the discussions held in London by Blue Air’s shareholders with two large investment firms interested in joining Blue Air’s shareholding structure.
Blue Air has recently been fined EUR2 million by the Consumer Protection Authority for having cancelled almost two hundred thousand flight bookings, between April 30, 2021 and April 30, 2022. The company said it would challenge the fine in court.