Have proposed including ATF under GST: Civil aviation ministry

The civil aviation ministry is pitching for bringing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, Parliament was informed today.

Currently, jet fuel or ATF is not under the GST ambit and the levy on it varies from state to state.

"This (civil aviation) ministry has requested ministry of finance to include aviation turbine fuel in the ambit of GST regime with full input tax credit at the earliest possible," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Jet fuel accounts for a significant chunk of an airline's operational costs which also has an impact on air ticket prices.
 

To a query on whether the Jammu & Kashmir government had brought it to the notice of the aviation ministry that the airfares to destinations in the state are irrationally exorbitant, particularly during winter, Sinha said his ministry has received a communication on the issue.

"This ministry had received a communication from the Jammu & Kashmir government requesting regulation of airfares of carriers operating in the Jammu and Srinagar sectors so that price stability is brought about and the cost of air travel is controlled within reasonable limits," he said in his reply.

"In response it has been highlighted by the ministry that the airlines are free to fix reasonable tariff under the provisions... keeping in mind, inter alia, the market, demand, seasonality, and other market forces," the junior minister said.

Some airlines offer discounted airfares on advance bookings under various schemes even during peak seasons, the minister said, adding "airlines remain compliant with the regulations as long as the airfare charged by them does not exceed the displayed fare structure on their website."

Replying to a question on steps being taken by the ministry to reduce noise pollution in areas near airports across the country, Sinha said various steps have been taken, which include proper land use planning in the airport vicinity, continuous descent approach, mixed mode runway operations, restriction on auxiliary power units/ ground power units at airports, restriction on ground run-up of engines, phasing out of Chapter-2 aircraft, and noise monitoring at major airports.