Process of getting ATF under GST bracket underway, says Jayant Sinha

The government is committed to providing airlines with a positive and supportive policy environment so that they can flourish and succeed, said Jayant Sinha, minister of state for civil aviation.

"We always engage with the industry, we listen to their concerns and their issues. They have brought up multiple issues in the past that we have resolved. We shall take a look at the most recent representation from them and see what we can do to support the industry," said Sinha.

Amid domestic carriers facing "substantial losses", the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has sought concessions from the civil aviation ministry, including additional time to pay oil companies and airport operators.

The FIA represents full-service carrier Jet Airways and three budget airlines, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and GoAir. In a letter to the ministry, the grouping said there is a "considerable cash flow mismatch between costs and revenues earned" by the airlines.

"We will have to look at each of the individual demands. Wherever we can intervene at a policy level and make a difference to the industry, we are absolutely moving forward as quickly as we can," Sinha added.

On bringing Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) under GST, he said the process is underway and it is with the GST council to decide when they bring it on their agenda and how quickly they deal with it.