Representative unions operating at the BHANSA level express deep concern and indignation over the situation in which the Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA) finds itself, which is caused by the non-implementation of the arbitration award in the case of Viaduct d.o.o. Portorož v. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Regardless of the fact that BHANSA was not a party to this dispute, the consequences fell directly on the Agency and all its employees.
Due to the blocking of funds from Eurocontrol, its basic functioning is endangered. What should be noted is that the income that BHANSA generates from route charges (overflights) represents over 90% of all BHANSA income. The fact that should not be ignored is that in 2024, BHANSA paid over 19.2 million convertible marks into the entity budgets based on various contributions, and that the projection based on the first two months of 2025 is that this amount in 2025 will amount to over 20.3 million convertible marks, and that as an institution it has taken ZERO convertible marks from the budget, the statement says.
If this blockade continues, BHANSA will no longer have the funds for regular maintenance of critical technical equipment, nor for meeting current operating costs, including fuel costs, utilities, services, contracts and basic logistics required for the continuous provision of air navigation services. This means a complete collapse of the system that must function 24/7 – without exception, they said.
Air traffic controllers perform one of the most responsible and demanding jobs in society. Every decision they make must be precise, timely and infallible. The conditions in which they currently work are far from those that allow for complete concentration and professional security – because uncertainty about salaries, the future and the stability of the institution in which they work creates constant pressure that is difficult to ignore.
The unions emphasize that long-term exposure to stress and insecurity can also have consequences for workers’ capacities to perform their duties in accordance with the highest safety standards. Although all our members strive to maintain professionalism and focus, systemic negligence creates an environment that does not guarantee sustainability. The existence of not only air traffic controllers in Bosnia and Herzegovina is threatened here, but also of all BHANSA employees, and this is something that we must not allow.
Air traffic safety in BiH is seriously threatened, they said.
This is not just a domestic issue – this is a matter of international responsibility, integrity and security. Our airspace is not just ours – it is part of a global network, and everything that happens in it has direct consequences for the international aviation system.
“In this context, we would like to emphasize that the BiH Air Traffic Controllers Union and the BiH Air Traffic Controllers Association have already informed the international organizations of which we are members – ATCEUC and IFATCA – about the seriousness of the situation. These organizations have not only expressed their full support, but have also taken concrete steps at the international level to finally bring the issue of ratification of the agreement in the Belgian Parliament on Eurocontrol’s immunity from third-party enforcement to an end and to ensure that such situations do not recur in the future.”
In addition, the representative unions in BHANSA and the Controllers Association in BiH have already addressed domestic institutions, demanding urgent action. Also, both ATCEUC and IFATCA have addressed both domestic and international institutions, including the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the Human Rights Ombudspersons, requesting their urgent intervention and protection of the fundamental rights of BHANSA employees.
Based on the information presented to the public after the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on 11.04.2025, we believe that it is completely unacceptable that in The entire story also involves BHANSA employees, it was announced.
For all of the above, the representative trade unions and the Association of Air Traffic Controllers in BiH call on the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance to fulfill their obligations without delay in such a way that the acquired rights of BHANSA employees are not degraded in any way. We request that until a decision is made on the settlement of the debt to Viaduct, Article 23 of the Law on BHANSA, which was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 53rd session of the House of Representatives, held on May 13, 2009, and at the 29th session of the House of Peoples, held on May 20, 2009, be applied.
“BHANSA employees are not to blame for the newly created situation, nor is it normal to expect them to agree to repay debts that BHANSA did not create. “BHANSA employees have no responsibility or connection with the debts to Viaduct, and there is no justification for their funds to be used to settle other people’s debts. Such a decision would be an extremely unjust, unfounded and dangerous practice that would open the door to similar irresponsible moves in the future. If this problem is not urgently resolved, the unions will, in accordance with the law, be forced to launch all available mechanisms to protect their members and their rights, with full awareness of the gravity of such a decision and its possible consequences. Our job is to protect human lives. Now we are asking for someone to finally protect ours.”
