India's airlines suffering double whammy: IATA
New Delhi, Sep 4 : India's passenger carriers are suffering from a "double whammy" of a steep rise in fuel costs and a decline in the Indian rupee's value, global airlines association IATA said on Tuesday.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the rise in fuel costs was particularly acute for Indian carriers as it makes up 34 per cent of operating costs well above the global average of 24 per cent.
"While it is easy to find Indian passengers who want to fly, it's very difficult for airlines to make money in this market," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO, at the International Aviation Summit being held here.
"India's social and economic development needs airlines to be able to profitably accommodate growing demand. We must address infrastructure constraints that limit growth and government policies that deviate from global standards and drive up the cost of connectivity."
IATA's top official pointed out that India's regulatory and tax framework for fuel hits airlines serving this market even harder.
"To start there is no real competition for fuel suppliers at airports, so there is little commercial incentive to keep fuel prices competitive. Then the airport takes fuel throughput fees. And, adding insult to injury, GST is then applied to the throughput fee, the infrastructure fee and the into plane service fee," de Juniac said.
"Then, on domestic flights, fuel is subject to excise duties and state taxes of up to 30 per cent. We understand that governments need tax revenue. But the economy needs financially sustainable air connectivity. The lack of competition in fuel and lack of true open-access to on-airport fuel infrastructure is strangling the lifeblood from the airlines. If you kill the goose that lays golden eggs, there are no more eggs!"
In addition, IATA said that global standard approaches can play a role in guiding the government to reduce India's costly operating environment.
"We have long made our case that applying GST to international tickets violates ICAO principles and India's international obligations," de Juniac said.
"These deviation from global standards may have a short-term revenue benefit
for the government. But it weakens India's competitiveness by raising the cost of connectivity. And, in its current form, airlines continue to face many compliance challenges. We need to resolve these issues in line with global standards and shoring-up India's competitiveness."
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LIVE | Election Results of five states 2026
New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.
The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.
The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.
- BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins
- TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal
- In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1
- UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1
- BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam
- AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry
- TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur
- BJP takes early lead in Assam
- Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala
- In Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South
- BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam
- LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency
- Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats
- Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats
- Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.
- Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.
- Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.
