No AOC for Skyairworld, delay for Solomon Airlines
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Top Airline Official Accused
Solomon Star News
Monday, 23 April 2012 09:25
Solomon Airlines commercial manager Gus Kraus
A Solomon Airlines top manager has been accused of renting out his private vehicles to senior staff without registering them as public transport, it was claimed.
Gus Kraus, commercial manager of Solomon Airlines reportedly rented five of his vehicles to the airline which was used by senior airlines’ officers with the costs of using these vehicles met by the airline. This practice was claimed to be on going for sometime now since he joined the airline.
An inside source revealed that Mr Kraus rented his five vehicles out to senior airlines' staff however did not register these vehicles as business but as private vehicles.
Three cars are said to be used by a local chief domestic pilot, a Dash-8 engineer and the airlines consultant.
While the other two cars are being used by the airlines’ financial controller and the airbus pilots during their overnight stay in Honiara on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The source further revealed these vehicles are being hired at a rate between $200-$500 per day.
The registry numbers of the cars are AB6442, AB9410, AB9908, AB5545 and AB6723.
An invoice (#SOL/IE-5545 007-9/2011) document dated 12/09/2011 cited by the Solomon Star showed the total cost of SBD$4,900.00 hiring for car AB 5545 for 14 days at $350 per day.
Another invoice (# IE-RHOL 019-9/2011) with the same date had a total amount of $8,400 for 28 days hire at $300 per day.
Another invoice number SOL/IE –APNG 19-9/2011 for 35 days of car hire at $250 per day that totaled to $8,750.00
The source questions whether it is legal to hire these cars using a private registration or not.
Further revelation stated that fuel, repair and servicing costs of these private cars are also met by the airline.
“This is ridiculous to see how these foreign elements come into the country to serve themselves and benefit from this company and leave our people hopeless.
“These senior airline officials have a network that works to serve their own interest and treat it as their own company.
“I wonder why the government or the board are so reluctant to axe these people. They have been manipulating this company like a family business.
“We had enough of working under pressure and in an unconducive environment,” an insider stressed.
The source said it is very interesting to see these foreigners taking up these top management jobs only to serve their own interests and not that of the company.
“They have sent out memos reminding staff not to release information regarding the company. If found you will be sacked.
“These foreigners don’t care whether the company is making a profit or not. What is evident of them is they care only about their money,” the source said.
Honiara acting City Clerk when questioned if such practice is acceptable, said it is wrong and any hired vehicles has to be registered as a public vehicle and pay business license to operate.
Charles Kelly said such practise must not be entertained and people should do the right thing other than to avoid paying fees they should be liable to.
Mr Kelly said the council has caught a huge number of public buses and taxis that failed to pay their business license.
“But if some people are hiding away with such practises to avoid fees then that is illegal,” Mr Kelly said.
Attempts to get Mr Kraus for comments over the past days on these allegations were not possible since he is still away overseas.
Two separate emails were sent to him last week but he was unable to respond.
However the Solomon Star was informed employees of the airlines were called to a meeting last Friday and were questioned over who leaked these documents to the media about the issue.
By Daniel Namosuaia
Monday, 23 April 2012 09:25
Solomon Airlines commercial manager Gus KrausA Solomon Airlines top manager has been accused of renting out his private vehicles to senior staff without registering them as public transport, it was claimed.
Gus Kraus, commercial manager of Solomon Airlines reportedly rented five of his vehicles to the airline which was used by senior airlines’ officers with the costs of using these vehicles met by the airline. This practice was claimed to be on going for sometime now since he joined the airline.
An inside source revealed that Mr Kraus rented his five vehicles out to senior airlines' staff however did not register these vehicles as business but as private vehicles.
Three cars are said to be used by a local chief domestic pilot, a Dash-8 engineer and the airlines consultant.
While the other two cars are being used by the airlines’ financial controller and the airbus pilots during their overnight stay in Honiara on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The source further revealed these vehicles are being hired at a rate between $200-$500 per day.
The registry numbers of the cars are AB6442, AB9410, AB9908, AB5545 and AB6723.
An invoice (#SOL/IE-5545 007-9/2011) document dated 12/09/2011 cited by the Solomon Star showed the total cost of SBD$4,900.00 hiring for car AB 5545 for 14 days at $350 per day.
Another invoice (# IE-RHOL 019-9/2011) with the same date had a total amount of $8,400 for 28 days hire at $300 per day.
Another invoice number SOL/IE –APNG 19-9/2011 for 35 days of car hire at $250 per day that totaled to $8,750.00
The source questions whether it is legal to hire these cars using a private registration or not.
Further revelation stated that fuel, repair and servicing costs of these private cars are also met by the airline.
“This is ridiculous to see how these foreign elements come into the country to serve themselves and benefit from this company and leave our people hopeless.
“These senior airline officials have a network that works to serve their own interest and treat it as their own company.
“I wonder why the government or the board are so reluctant to axe these people. They have been manipulating this company like a family business.
“We had enough of working under pressure and in an unconducive environment,” an insider stressed.
The source said it is very interesting to see these foreigners taking up these top management jobs only to serve their own interests and not that of the company.
“They have sent out memos reminding staff not to release information regarding the company. If found you will be sacked.
“These foreigners don’t care whether the company is making a profit or not. What is evident of them is they care only about their money,” the source said.
Honiara acting City Clerk when questioned if such practice is acceptable, said it is wrong and any hired vehicles has to be registered as a public vehicle and pay business license to operate.
Charles Kelly said such practise must not be entertained and people should do the right thing other than to avoid paying fees they should be liable to.
Mr Kelly said the council has caught a huge number of public buses and taxis that failed to pay their business license.
“But if some people are hiding away with such practises to avoid fees then that is illegal,” Mr Kelly said.
Attempts to get Mr Kraus for comments over the past days on these allegations were not possible since he is still away overseas.
Two separate emails were sent to him last week but he was unable to respond.
However the Solomon Star was informed employees of the airlines were called to a meeting last Friday and were questioned over who leaked these documents to the media about the issue.
By Daniel Namosuaia
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alabama, then Wyoming, then Idaho and now staying with Kharon on Styx houseboat
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Who would have thought that an airline executive would be more interested in his own self interest than the airline or countries interest??
I would also expect that at the prices the cars are being rented out for they at least come with a working radio, floor carpet and vinyl seats that are free of urine stains and crusty brown matter!
I would also expect that at the prices the cars are being rented out for they at least come with a working radio, floor carpet and vinyl seats that are free of urine stains and crusty brown matter!
