Airline stir: Govt swings into action

New Delhi: Close on the heels of private airlines issuing an ultimatum today and deciding to suspend nationwide flights on 18 August to demand urgent government intervention and an immediate bailout, the Centre swung into action, inviting them for talks while disapproving of their unprecedented protest move.
“The government understands the problems being faced by the aviation sector. However, it does not support any move that will inconvenience the travelling public in the country,” the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, said. “We advise the airlines to engage in a dialogue with the government.” Referring to the issues raised by the FIA at its Mumbai meeting today, Mr Patel said: “The issue of tax on ATF is a state issue and the aviation ministry has been requesting the states for the last few years to see reason (to rationalise them). The Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said he will discuss the situation with Mr Patel.
31/07/09 The Statesman

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2009