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broadly indicate a number of major issues of concern for the entire sector as a whole.
We all have to face high cost in terms of operations due to perhaps the cost of aviation turbine fuel, which leads to problems in terms of revenue, and profitability of the airlines at this point in time. A major area on which we need to focus on is the growth in general aviation, in terms of helicopter usage and in cargo activities. Then there are issues of infrastructure not only on the ground, but in terms of air space management—its optimum and safe use. And last but not least there are issues on the human resource front in terms of requirement of pilots, engineers, cabin crew etc, which have to move in tandem to support this exponential growth in the aviation sector.
Shivnath Thukral – managing editor, NDTV Profit: Mr Thulasidas, are we in a situation where we still do not consider the status of the aviation sector in a serious manner and still treat it as a luxurious segment, as a result of which, action expected by the Government does not come by? There is no sense of urgency amongst policy makers, but still are we going to lose out on the game?
V Thulasidas – CMD, Air-India: All kinds of people travel by air today. A lot of people who have travelled by train have now graduated to air travel. This goes to show that it has become a major infrastructure for the business of economic growth in the country. But I need to look at it from the point of view of an airline operator. We receive a lot of criticism when our flights get delayed, when there is flight disruption or when there is an increase in fuel surcharge. The fact remains that this industry in India now has been coping with rising costs that are extremely difficult to control. We are inducting new aircraft but all this has to be paid for, depreciation has to be provided for. ATF, today the single most important factor, is $2.60 cents to a US gallon. It used to be $1.15 cents four years back when I came into Air India. Now, everything has gone up, well as four years ago when I was asked what was the main issue, I said costs. Today those costs have become far more complex, far more difficult...
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