Sana’a: Yemen has reopened its international airports after a brief closure on Monday due to a strike by workers at the civil aviation authority, the transport minister told state news agency Saba.
Airports were closed earlier in the day as workers went on strike in response to a dispute with the finance ministry over the aviation authority’s independence. The finance ministry froze the authority’s funds, making it unable to pay workers’ wages.
Chaos hit the Sanaa and Aden airports with stranded passengers asked to return home, witnesses said.
“Some passengers protested and tried to storm the airport,” one witness at Sanaa airport said.
The aviation authority falls under the supervision of the transport ministry. The dispute started when the finance ministry decided to appoint a financial official at the authority, which says its finances are independent.
The freezing of the aviation authority’s funds has prevented it from paying workers’ wages and other operating costs, a statement by the authority’s workers union said.
Transport Minister Waed Batheeb promised the workers that he would help to resolve the issue, Saba reported. Officials at Sana’a and Aden airports confirmed the airports had reopened.
