Airing a grouse

The Union Budget provided little for the aviation sector in terms of tax support or incentives but it did have something for one group in this industry: cabin crew and pilots. Finance Minister P Chidambaram has revised the baggage rules applicable to them by increasing the duty-free allowance from Rs 600 to Rs 1,500. Considering the general duty-free allowance into India is Rs 25,000, cabin crew and pilots have greeted the enhancement with mild sarcasm. "What a magnanimous and magnificent increase in the allowance. We all are going on a shopping spree," a senior pilot from a private airline said.