Qatar's Rizon Jet could sue aviation authority

Qatar private aviation company Rizon Jet is considering suing Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) over the right to allow third party operators to use its facilities.

“We are at a junction right now, either we go to court or we quit,” CEO Hassan Al-Mousawi told Arabian Business Qatar.

Al-Mousawi says that since November 2012 QCAA has rejected all applications from other private jet operators to use Rizon Jet's facilities at Doha International Airport. He said that Rizon Jet may be forced to close its Doha operation if the QCAA does not change its stance.

The Doha-based company said it is now struggling to cover costs since 50 percent of its revenue came from these activities. QCAA also withdrew Rizon Jet's travel agency license only six month after it was granted.

 “We are counting on the government to intervene,” said Al-Mousawi, adding that the company is spending QAR40m a year maintaining its business in Doha, a situation he says is no longer sustainable.

 “If Qatar Civil Aviation Authority doesn’t allow third parties to use Rizon Jet facilities, we will have to close our operation in Doha, and move elsewhere” he explained.

Rizon Jet has offices in London, Sharjah, Dubai and is considering opening in Saudi Arabia.

Rizon Jet was founded in 2006 with a QAR500m investment, with its main infrastructure in Doha built on land allocated by the government.

“His Highness the Emir and His Highness the Heir Apparent have asked all the government agencies to encourage all private sector entities to be part of the Qatari economy, but somehow when it gets to the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority level, it doesn’t get translated properly,” said Al-Mousawi. 

The QCAA did had not responded to Arabian Business Qatar's request for comment at the time of publication.