Mumbai: The civil aviation minister Praful Patel has said that the ministry would support the cause of the airlines for direct import of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) by Indian carriers.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the silver jubilee global awards function organised by the Priyadarshini Academy, Patel said that the ministry is supportive in allowing the airlines to import ATF, as the move would not only benefit airlines, but also passengers who have been paying high air fares on account of high fuel costs.

The cost of aviation turbine fuel contributes around 40 – 50 per cent of the total operating cost of domestic carriers.  The Federation of Indian Airlines has been lobbying to get an approval for direct import of ATF from the government. If successful, it would result in a big relief for the domestic airline industry. The direct import of ATF will also free carriers from the high sales tax levied on ATF.