Aviation honchos to meet PM today

Aviation industry captains alongwith promoters of private airport companies like GMR and GVK have decided to make a strong pitch before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they meet him on Saturday for rationalisation of taxes on jetfuel and further liberalising the rules for the sector.

“Some airlines are going to ask for relaxation in FDI rules to allow foreign airlines to invest in domestic carriers. The industry as a whole would ask for reducing sales tax burden on jet fuel. They would explain their problems,” government sources said.

An executive of a private airline said that most of the airline promoters including Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal and IndiGo’s Rahul Bhatia would attend the meeting. While troubled Kingfisher Airlines is expected to make a case for allowing foreign airlines to invest in Indian carriers top bosses of other carriers are likely to oppose it.