<p>Despite its limited success on taking allies on board on key policy issues, the government is hopeful of a political consensus on allowing foreign carriers pick up 49 per cent stake in domestic airlines, including from UPA ally Trinamool Congress, which has thwarted such attempts in the past.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Aviation Minister Ajit Singh may approach TMC Chief Mamta Banerjee later this week when he travels to Kolkata on September 14 en route Kharagpur, where he is expected to attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Institute of Technology.<br /><br />Although Singh has held several rounds of meeting with Banerjee on airlines FDI , no consensus has been arrived yet. This, however, does not seem to have deterred the aviation minister any bit, who refused to accept that TMC chief has expressed opposition to the proposal.<br /><br />Asked about West Bengal Chief Minister’s reservations on the issue, Singh said “she has neither said no, nor yes in the past.” He said that the government is also in talks with other political parties on reaching a consensus on the issue.<br />Although there is an opposition to the move, experts feel allowing foreign players to buy stake in Indian airlines will infuse much-needed fuel to an otherwise ailing sector.<br /><br />The industry has been reeling under soaring fuel costs, swelling debts, high taxes and cut-throat competition. The taxes on ATF are as high as 33 per cent in some of the states.<br />Singh said he has written to the Petroleum Ministry on declaring aviation turbine fuel a notified product. Such a move will decrease burden of fuel cost on airlines.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Despite its limited success on taking allies on board on key policy issues, the government is hopeful of a political consensus on allowing foreign carriers pick up 49 per cent stake in domestic airlines, including from UPA ally Trinamool Congress, which has thwarted such attempts in the past.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Aviation Minister Ajit Singh may approach TMC Chief Mamta Banerjee later this week when he travels to Kolkata on September 14 en route Kharagpur, where he is expected to attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Institute of Technology.<br /><br />Although Singh has held several rounds of meeting with Banerjee on airlines FDI , no consensus has been arrived yet. This, however, does not seem to have deterred the aviation minister any bit, who refused to accept that TMC chief has expressed opposition to the proposal.<br /><br />Asked about West Bengal Chief Minister’s reservations on the issue, Singh said “she has neither said no, nor yes in the past.” He said that the government is also in talks with other political parties on reaching a consensus on the issue.<br />Although there is an opposition to the move, experts feel allowing foreign players to buy stake in Indian airlines will infuse much-needed fuel to an otherwise ailing sector.<br /><br />The industry has been reeling under soaring fuel costs, swelling debts, high taxes and cut-throat competition. The taxes on ATF are as high as 33 per cent in some of the states.<br />Singh said he has written to the Petroleum Ministry on declaring aviation turbine fuel a notified product. Such a move will decrease burden of fuel cost on airlines.<br /><br /></p>
