Perth Airport has seized a number of Virgin Australia aircraft over outstanding bills.
Perth Airport has seized a number of parked Virgin Australia aircraft because of unpaid invoices, with the airport saying it must “protect its own interests”.
Images obtained by broadcasters show a bulldozer, trucks and portable stairs positioned right in front of the planes so that they cannot take off.
“Virgin has significant outstanding invoices from Perth Airport for airfield and terminal use charges—money the airline has already collected from its passengers and the FIFO sector,” an airport spokesperson said on Friday.
“While Perth Airport is working with the Virgin administrators, it also needs to protect its own interests.
“Perth Airport has taken liens over a number of Virgin aircraft—a standard practice in these situations.”
The airport did not specify the value of the dues.
The aircraft had been parked for some time and were not currently being used for flights.
Virgin Australia is currently flying a skeleton schedule under its regular management team as administrators seek a buyer for the entire operation.
The bankrupt airline’s administrators, Deloitte, are liable to pay leases on its aircraft starting April 28.
The administrators are seeking court orders for an extension of up to four weeks from their appointment to decide if leased planes were required for continuing operations of the business.
