Kingfisher Airline importing ATF in their bad economies: Oil Companies

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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As the government ponders allowing Kingfisher Airlines to import ATF directly, oil companies have contrasting the move saying the proposal was “bad economics” for the harassed airline in view of high taxes and handling cost.

In a detailed retort to the application made by Kingfisher to import Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) directly, oil firms stated that India is surplus in jet fuel and exports half of its production annually, official sources have revealed. Allowing direct introduce of ATF may lead to avoidable concurrent import/export of ATF and undue burden on port infrastructure in the country, the oil firmshave  said.

Kingfisher hypothetical that by importing ATF directly, it can make considerable savings by not having to pay sales tax (which varies between 4 to 30 per cent from state to state). Oil firms however say the airline would have to pay 12.83 per cent duty on the imported ATF (additional customs duty or CVD of 8.24 per cent plus a 3 per cent education cess on top of it and an additional 4 per cent special CVD or SAD).

Against this, Kingfisher presently pays only 8.24 per cent excise duty on jet fuel purchases made from oil firms. Sources have said that oil PSUs also made it clear that they do not have surplus infrastructure facility at any port location in India, which can be hired by Kingfisher to import ATF.

Besides, the airline would either have to construct its own storage tanks or hire those from oil companies for stockpile the imported ATF at the ports. It would then have to make arrangements for transporting ATF to airports in trucks.

Even after time and cost overwhelming exercise, Kingfisher can dispense the fuel into its aircraft at only three airports – Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore– which allow refueling communications to be shared on “Open Access” basis.

In rest of airports, oil companies have the monopoly and the airline would need to negotiate and enter into specific agreements with these companies for extending their facilities on “open access”. Sources said Kingfisher obligation of ATF during 2011-12 is 4, 34,000 tones or 33,600 tons per month and availability of adequate tank age would be a constraint to receive such parcel sizes.

Also, state governments tend to levy additional entry tax when they feel their revenues are being compromised due to direct imports.

In 1995-96 when import of ATF was undertaken on behalf of ATOs (Air Transport Operators) and Airlines against Special Import License, additional entry tax was charge by state governments, the oil companies pointed out.

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