Patel resolved Jet crisis – says airlines are not defaulters

New Delhi: Ruling out any bailout package for the aviation sector, civil aviation minister, Praful Patel however raised a strong voice for rationalisation of air turbine fuel (ATF) prices in order to save the aviation sector. Patel pointed out that ATF prices were 70 per cent higher in the country than anywhere else in the world.

The minister said there was an immediate need for rationalisation of ATF prices. 

Asked by reporters whether the government was planning any bailout package for aviation industry, he said there was no question of such a package.

Commenting over the labelling of airlines as defaulters over the delay in payment of fuel bills to oil companies, Patel said there was a 60-day period for making payment. "So they cannot be branded as defaulters."

Patel expressed his happiness over Jet Airways' decision to reinstate all sacked employees. He said "I am happy that 1900 jobs are saved. But I am unhappy that no new jobs are being created in the aviation sector."

According to Patel, he took the initiative for resolving the situation caused by the sacking of 1900 employees by Jet but denied there was any pressure from the prime minister's office in this matter. "Nobody spoke to me on the issue from the PMO. But I had to take the initiative as aviation minister and spoke to Naresh Goyal yesterday and told him to resolve the issue as soon as possible," he said.