Centre Approves ₹10,000 Crore ATF Stabilisation Package to Cushion Airlines Amid West Asia Crisis
The Union Government has approved a one-time budgetary support package of ₹10,000 crore to help stabilise Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices and protect the aviation sector from the impact of sharp global fuel price fluctuations triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking at an Inter-Ministerial briefing in New Delhi on recent developments in West Asia, Rohit Raj, Director in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said the measure has been introduced in the larger public interest to safeguard air connectivity, maintain stability in aviation services, and prevent a significant increase in airfares for passengers. He clarified that the initiative is not a subsidy but a temporary stabilisation mechanism designed to absorb the impact of exceptional fuel price volatility. The arrangement includes provisions for accountability, monitoring, and recovery of funds. According to Raj, reducing airlines’ exposure to sudden spikes in fuel costs will help limit the transfer of additional expenses to travellers while ensuring uninterrupted air services across the country. He emphasized that reliable air connectivity plays a crucial role in supporting regional development, tourism, trade, healthcare, education, and investment, adding that the government remains committed to affordable and dependable air travel while promoting the growth of India’s civil aviation sector. Providing an update on the country’s energy situation, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India has sufficient stocks of petrol, diesel, LPG, and natural gas. She noted that no LPG distributorships have reported shortages and highlighted improvements in service delivery, with online LPG bookings reaching 99% and OTP-based deliveries exceeding 96%. Sharma said authorities continue to monitor the market closely and take enforcement action against black marketing and hoarding of petroleum products. Since March, more than eight lakh PNG connections have been activated, while infrastructure for nearly 2.98 lakh additional connections has been established. She also revealed that approximately 1.43 crore domestic LPG cylinders were delivered across the country over the past three days. During the same period, around 19,000 tonnes of commercial LPG were sold, along with more than 1.57 lakh five-kilogram Free Trade LPG cylinders. Meanwhile, Asim R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the government is closely monitoring developments across the Gulf and West Asia. He advised Indian citizens to avoid travel to Iran and stated that Indian embassies and consulates in the region continue to operate 24/7 helplines and provide assistance to citizens. Mahajan added that flight operations between the region and India are gradually improving, with additional services being introduced. He also noted that the government is regularly issuing travel advisories and updates related to local regulations and flight operations to keep citizens informed. Source: News on AIR
