Aviation industry upset over jet fuel prices, seeks tax sops

Industry executes press for policy overhaul to alleviate financial strain on the sector

- Anu Sharma

With the Union Budget 2024-25 on the anvil, the Indian aviation industry hopes for a range of measures to reduce cost burden with respect to aviation turbine fuel (ATF), lower duty structure on import of private aircraft, categorization of airports under priority sector lending and more initiatives to improve regional connectivity in India.

"The import duty has to be done away with. It comes to 3% when you import either by purchasing of aircraft or induct it on lease. That is one biggest hurdle. Rest are all policy matters which can be dealt with. This makes import very expensive. It has outlived its validity. It was imposed 15 years ago and has outlived its utility. The government must remove it," Harsh Vardhan Sharma, president, Business Aircraft Operators Association, said.