For all practical reasons, importing jet fuel directly is not feasible and will not benefit ailing airlines. Fuel storage and transport requires massive infrastructure facilities that a sick airline will not be able to create — for this it may ultimately have to depend on oil marketing companies (OMCs) and that will certainly prove to be expensive. Moreover, for direct imports, airlines have to pay through a line of credit. On the other hand, they are offered unlimited credit by OMCs. A couple of years ago, when cement prices were ruling high, builders were allowed direct import of cement. But they could not take advantage of it precisely because of these reasons.
N Ramamurthy Chennai
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