Vayalar Ravi, who is also the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, was at the terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive the Indians evacuated from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Agreement paves the way for increased air connectivity between both countries and has the potential to spur trade investment, tourism and strengthening the cultural exchange between India and Brazil.
The four recommendations came from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs,Vayalar Ravi, member of US Congress Joseph Crowley and Dalis Adler, staff associate, sub-committee on the Middle East and South Asia under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The global airlines body International Air Transport Association also said that such taxes would compromise the industry's ability to maintain margins. Ravi said he would also appeal to all state governments to reduce sales tax on aviation turbine fuel.
New Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi on Thursday sought the support of all employees of ailing Air India in restoring its lost glory and said the staff and the management should work in coordination to achieve this.
A reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers is scheduled for Tuesday evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The swearing-in has been fixed for 5 pm. Trinamool Congress' Dinesh Trivedi is likely to get the railways portfolio. The portfolios of a number of ministers are likely to be changed, including civil aviation, currently with Vayalar Ravi, and law, which is with Veerappa Moily. Minister Beni Prasad Verma from Uttar Pradesh is likely to be promoted to the Cabinet rank.
The state-run airline is reeling under major financial losses and a plan of action has already been put in place to revive its lost status.
But if the minister signals that he is on the side of the unions on key staff issues, he reduces the management's scope of action as well as the likelihood of better service.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said the demands of the striking Air India employees could not be accepted.
The negotiations will be held in Mumbai on Tueday at the International Civil Aviation Negotiations Conference which will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil.
A section of Air India pilots, who threatened to go on strike from Wednesday demanding pay parity and better working conditions, on Tuesday night deferred their agitation till March 15 following tripartite talks with the carrier's management and chief labour commissioner in New Delhi.
With high festive season demand pushing up airfares, aviation regulator DGCA has been asked by the Union civil aviation ministry to examine if it could take some steps provide any relief to air travellers.
Facing serious financial turbulence, Kingfisher Airlines has sought government help for a bailout even as it continued its flight curtailment spree for the fifth consecutive day on Friday and its stocks plummeted by over 19 per cent to an all-time low but recovered slightly later.
While a demand for allocation of Rs. 2,000 crore has already been made, sources said provision for Rs. 1,200 crore worth of equity could be made in the Budget.
The decision came following the intervention of Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi who met Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy to sort out the issue.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said the air carriers had sought a meeting with the prime minister.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines along with Paramount Airways did not settle dues on a regular fortnightly basis.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi on Thursday asked managers of state-run airports to tighten up their belts for competing with private-led ones and fulfil their customers' expectations.
In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, he sought permission to step down from the board of National Aviation Company of India Ltd.
Delhi high court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to nine of the striking Air India pilots for defying its order to call off the agitation which entered the seventh day.
State of Air India reveals one of the sorriest aspects of Indian public life.
Government has already set aside a provision of Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) in the Budget for infusing equity in Air India in this financial year.
The airline is operating the flight AI-9801 with a 70-seater Canadian Regional Jet aircraft, which on Tuesday had an occupancy of 50 from Delhi.
A section of Air India pilots, who have threatened to go on strike tomorrow demanding pay parity and better working conditions, on Tuesday, met the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) as part of the conciliation process.
The government has infused fresh equity of Rs 3,200 crore.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said the government was considering extending financial support to Air India.
Explaining the precarious financial health of India's flag carrier, the government on Wednesday said Air India earns Rs 36 crore (Rs 360 million) a day from its operations while it spends about Rs 57 crore (Rs 570 million).
Already reeling under huge losses and facing a liquidity crunch, Air India has suffered a loss of Rs 3,450 crore (Rs 34.5 billion) in the first half of the current fiscal.
It is alleged that Air India never got a level playing field, when it came to allotment of terminals, lounges, or check-in counters at airports.
'The lay of the runway is not at all safe.' 'Even operating a 737 is dangerous there.' 'During the monsoon, they must ban landing on runway 10.'
The office of former prime minister Manmohan Singh may have taken a special interest to try and keep afloat Vijay Mallya's ailing Kingfisher Airlines against the run of play, e-mails and letters claiming this and accessed by CNN-News18 indicate.