The Ministry of Transport says it is looking for ways to avail hard currency to aviation companies to enable them reduce the cost of air transport.

In January, prices of domestic air tickets increased fourfold after the devaluation of the pound in December 2015.

The Director of Civil Aviation Authority, Stephen Warikozi, says an air ticket for flights within the country cost 600 pounds but shot up to between 2,500 and 4,000 by then.

The government had increased the landing, parking and operation fees for the aviation companies, which hindered their operation within the country.

Currently, the cost of air tickets has more than tripled.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport says the aviation companies complain that they pay the taxes and other operations fees in the hard currency.

Captain David Martin Hassan said the Ministry is trying to avail for them the US dollars through the Central Bank.

“The government will try to help them get some of the hard currency from the National Fund, and that is from the Central Bank,” Capt Hassan told Eye Radio.

Capt Hassan said construction in part of the airport has stopped due to lack of funding.