In a major relief to cash-strapped airlines, jet fuel (ATF) prices were today reduced by a massive 5 per cent, the steepest reduction in rates since February 2010.
The price of non-subsidised LPG, which customers buy after using up their quota of 12 subsidised cylinders, was raised by Rs 16.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder, the first hike in six months.
The civil aviation ministry is hopeful of further reduction in the price of aviation turbine fuel this year.
Higher economic growth and affordability will help Indian aviation firms register strong growth.
Virtually ruling out any bail-out, the government on Saturday asked private airlines to withdraw their call for suspending flights on August 18 and warned them of "appropriate action" if flight schedules are disrupted.
In the wake of recent hike in airline fares owing to rise in aviation turbine fuel prices, the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Thursday met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and sought reduction in excise duty on the fuel in the Budget.
Low-cost carrier Deccan Aviation is considering rationalisation of some of its routes as a cost-cutting measure in the backdrop of a hike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, a top company official said.
Petrofed, a body representing both public and private sector companies like Indian Oil Corp and Reliance Industries, has written to the government seeking inclusion of crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel and natural gas in the goods and services tax that is likely to come into effect from next year.
Two decisions by an empowered group of ministers on Tuesday demonstrated the government's continuing inability to come to grips with the problems being faced by the aviation sector.
With jet fuel prices hiked by 2.5 per cent, Jet Airways on Friday increased fuel surcharge on its tickets by Rs 200 with effect from tomorrow, raising airfares.
From April 1 all domestic airlines except Air India have increased fee for cancellations and date change by Rs 200 to Rs 950.
Jet fuel constitutes roughly 40 per cent of the operating cost of an airline.
Jet fuel will cost Rs 37,300 per kl in Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, from Rs 38,246.60. The reduced rates will help cash-strapped airlines cut fuel cost, which constitutes roughly 40 per cent of their operational cost.
Public sector oil companies on Sunday slashed jet fuel or Aviation Turbine Fuel prices by 3.7 per cent, the tenth reduction since September. ATF prices in Delhi were slashed to Rs 29,158 per kilolitre, effective midnight tonight, an official of Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said. The fuel used by airlines till today was priced at Rs 30,288 per kilolitre. After today's Rs 1,130 a kilolitre reduction, jet fuel is priced at early 2005 levels.
State-owned oil companies on Tuesday slashed jet fuel prices by over 3 per cent as an appreciating rupee made imports cheaper.
Rising crude oil prices and muted passenger traffic in the July-September quarter (second quarter, or Q2) of 2023-24 (FY24) have raised concerns about the profitability of listed aviation players. These two concerns have caused the stock of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), the largest player in the sector, to slip by 11 per cent since its highs at the end of July. Nuvama Research expects yields to cool down in the near term due to seasonality, rising crude oil prices, and higher capacity.
After three consecutive hikes, state-run oil companies on Thursday reduced jet fuel or ATF prices marginally by about one per cent in tandem with international rates for the same.Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum cut aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price by Rs 311 per kilolitre in Delhi to Rs 31,615 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an IOC official said.
That's a surprise since his protege Praful Patel has shouted down requests this week
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a Rs 50-crore (Rs 500-million) aviation turbine fuel pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation from Manali to Chennai, the minister said: "Air India will not sack employees but financial and organisational restructuring is on the cards."
SpiceJet COO says ATF price cut is need of the hour.
In the first reduction in rate in two months, jet fuel or ATF price on Thursday was cut by 3 per cent in line with softening international crude oil prices. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was reduced by Rs 1,887 per kilolitre, or 3 per cent, to Rs 58,374.16 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. This is the first reduction in rates after four rounds of increase since February. Rates were increased by Rs 3,246.75 per kl on February 1, followed by a 3.6 per cent hike on February 16, and a steep 6.5 per cent raise on March 1. On March 16, prices were again raised by Rs 860.25 per kl. On Thursday, a Rs 10 per cylinder reduction in price of domestic cooking gas LPG also came into effect.
Aviation turbine fuel prices in Delhi were slashed by Rs 2,052 per kilolitre to Rs 27,106 per kl, effective midnight on Saturday, an official of Indian Oil Corporation, said. But for the one-off 3.3 per cent increase in rates on January 16, jet fuel prices are declining in tandem with the fall in international oil rates.
Flights from Delhi or Bengaluru, while they may still fly over Iran, depending on the route, have alternative paths that may take them through Central Asia or northern routes.
For the second time this month, state-run oil companies on Tuesday cut jet fuel prices to ease the burden on cash-strapped airlines. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices in Delhi was reduced by Rs 649 or 1.6 per cent to Rs 39,319 per kilolitre, effective midnight tonight.
In Mumbai, jet fuel will cost Rs 72,830.64 per kl from tomorrow as against Rs 68,103.26 per kl at present.
Jet fuel prices on Thursday were hiked by the steepest ever 16 per cent to catapult rates to an all-time high in step with hardening international oil rates.
Besides, it owes an interest of Rs 423.43 crore (Rs 4.23 billion) to IOC, Rs 92.73 crore (Rs 927.3 million) to BPCL and Rs 66.17 crore (Rs 661.7 million) to HPCL.
MCX launched contracts in gold, heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, sliver HNI and aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The futures contracts will expire between February and May and the trading specifications will remain unchanged, the exchanges said.
IOC encashed the bank guarantee Kingfisher had given for buying aviation turbine fuel or ATF for its fleet of 75 aircraft, 10 days ago, industry sources said. As on April 20, the private air-carrier owed IOC about Rs 160 crore (Rs 1.6 billion) in fuel bills. It sent a cheque of this amount to IOC but the cheque bounced, forcing IOC to encash the bank guarantee.
The hike comes on back of two massive hikes effected on February 1 and 16.
Jet fuel or ATF prices in Delhi were slashed to Rs 30,288 per kilolitre, effective Saturday midnight, an official of Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said. But for the 3.3 per cent increase in rates on January 16, jet fuel prices have been reduced for the ninth time on Saturday since September 1, 2008 when international crude oil prices started to decline.
Air travel is going to be dearer as major airlines have decided to raise the fares by at least 10 per cent besides increasing the fuel surcharge. The move by Air India, Jet Airways, Spicejet and Kingfisher comes in view of rise in prices of aviation turbine fuel by over nine per cent in line with the increase in international crude oil rates.
The Delhi government has requested airlines to come up with a detailed note on how decrease in sales tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) will lead to higher offtake of fuel from Delhi airport, before taking any measure for reduction in taxes. Airlines have been repeatedly making representations to the state government asking for a reduction in sales tax on ATF from the current 20 per cent to 4 per cent.
Air fares are set to go up again, with the government announcing an over 18 per cent average increase in the prices of aviation turbine fuel, effective Saturday midnight.
The Indian aviation sector is on the cusp of a change as airlines look to induct a record number of aircraft. This, analysts said, will put the sector on a growth runway, though keeping it viable for only long-term investors. According to Vinit Bolinjkar, head of research at Ventura Securities, expectations of strong air traffic, coupled with low penetration, is the prime reason for a solid long-term outlook.
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