Due to falling demand the VivaColombia airline expects to reduce the number of weekly flights to the Panama Pacifico terminal from seven to four, and is requesting that airport taxes be lowered.
High rates charged by the Panama Pacific International Airport, and the lack of an agreement with the state administrator of Tocumen, SA, have caused the low cost airline VivaColombia to make preparations to reduce the number of weekly flights to the country from seven to four.
International passengers transiting through the country's four international airports must pay an additional $6 which corresponds to a migration tax.
With the adjustment, the total tax paid by each passenger will be $45.97, which includes the migration services and international departure taxes charged by the concessionaire of the airports in the country.
The airline VivaColombia may put an end to its flights to the terminal arguing that the increase airport tax of $15 to $32 has affected occupancy levels on their flights.
The airline from Colombia is trying to reach an agreement with the authorities of Tocumen SA in order to maintain operations at the terminal in Howard, but stated that if they are unable to do so, they will suspend flights to the airport and use Tocumen instead, starting from March 2016.
The Superior Council of Private Enterprise has presented to the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services a request for judicial review of "Administrative Agreement 003-2015, Regulations for the payment of duties and taxes."
From a statement issued by COSEP:
The analysis we have carried out in COSEP, in conjunction with the Internet Association of Nicaragua, leads us to understand that we are facing a new decision on the part the regulator, which as well as not being consulted on, if implemented, will alter the framework of competitiveness of the telecommunications market, will raise rates and jeopardize the viability of investments, especially of small enterprises, affecting the market and inevitably raising costs for end users.
The private sector is opposed to the new fees and charges payable by telecommunications companies, arguing that it will cause operating costs to rise.
Representatives from the Higher Council of Private Enterprise are opposed to Administrative Agreement No. 003-2015, which will be in effect from September 22 and sets fees and charges, for the use of radio spectrum, licensing, data transmission and other services, payable to the Institute Nicaraguan Telecommunications and Postal Services.
As of August 15 airport tax for passengers transiting the Panama Pacific airport will will rise from $15 to $34 .
The charges for passenger service in the Panama Pacific terminal will go up to $34 from August 15, and there will be a discount of 50% for pensioners and seniors. In addition to this increase, the Tocumen administration announced it has established "...
In response to demands from carriers the Directorate General of Customs has temporarily suspended the payment of $18 for scanning each unit load transported.
From a statement issued by the Treasury of El Salvador:
Payment of the Fee for the Service of Non Intrusive Inspections and Transmission of the Declaration of Goods
Carriers claim that the new rules on the $18 fee for revision using scanners is not clear when it comes to charging the fee on consolidated cargo.
This new conflict has arisen from the fact that the rules of the law do not specify whether in the case of consolidated cargo the $18 must be paid per package or if the fee should be divided among all packages, as they claim has been done up until now.
With the amendment to the Customs Simplification Act charges for inspections using scanners on international freight have been eliminated, but are maintained for cargo of national origin or destination.
The Legislature has eliminated the fee of $18 for use of scanners on international freight, but not on national cargo, ie freight departing from or arriving at El Salvador.
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved extending for 60 days the suspension of payment of the fee for inspecting goods at customs using scanners.
According to the approval measure given by the Assembly, the extension of the suspension of the collection will be until mid-September and will apply to both domestic and foreign cargo, regardless of whether the destination of the goods is within or outside of Salvadoran territory.
Approval has been given to the amendment to the law on scanned inspections which replaces the rate of 0.26% on the value of the goods with a fixed fee of $70 for goods exceeding $2,000 and $20 for goods valued at between $500 and $2000.
Goods under the free zone regime, which are transported by land or sea, will pay $30 and goods transported via air will have a rate of $25, while perishable cargo has a fixed rate of $20.
If the proposed amendment to the Scanner Act is approved, the fee to be charged will be $70 on merchandise worth over $2,000 and $20 on goods ranging in value from $500 to $2000.
In addition, there will be a fee of $25 on freight from the free zone declared in air customs offices and $30 of free zone goods declared in land and maritime customs offices.
Regional agreements establish reciprocal and non-discriminatory treatment for international land freight transport services between Central American countries.
An article in Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...The deputy ministers of Foreign Trade of Central America agreed yesterday that Guatemala would send a complete analysis, which demonstrates that the charge of $18 being made in El Salvador for carrying out non intrusive revisions contravenes trade regulations and affects the region. "
President Mauricio Funes has vetoed the legislative decree suspending the charging of $18 for non-intrusive inspections at customs offices in the country.
From a statement issued by the presidency of El Salvador:
The President, Mauricio Funes vetoed today, after considering it inconvenient, the six-month suspension of the collection of a few for the service of nonintrusive inspection at customs office, which deputies approved by Legislative Decree no. 629.
Congress has confirmed the exemption from payment of $18 for non intrusive inspections of all goods, including exports and imports.
The suspension of the payment of $18 for the X-ray inspection of the goods will be for six months from its publication in the Official newspaper, providing President Funes endorses it.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
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