ID :
229247
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 15:19
Auther :

Indian Govt notifies direct import of jet fuel by airliners

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) Meeting a key demand of the country's cash-strapped airline industry, the Indian government today issued a notification allowing private airlines to import jet fuel or ATF directly. Air carriers interested in importing the aviation turbine fuel (ATF), instead of buying from local refiners, would have to apply to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for an import licence, an official press statement said. A Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on February 7 decided that the Commerce Ministry would permit direct import of ATF. Beleaguered private carrier Kingfisher Airlines has been demanding permission to get fuel supplies from overseas so that the carriers do not have to pay sales tax that are as high as 30 per cent in some of the Indian states. Jet fuel, which makes up for about 40 per cent of an airline's operating expenses, costs the most in the region. The notification said ATF imports have been allowed by or on behalf of Indian carriers on actual use basis. PTI

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