New Delhi, April 1 -- Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Wednesday welcomed the government's decision to allow only a partial increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines, describing it as a timely measure to ease pressure on passengers and the aviation sector.

In a post on X, Kinjarapu wrote, "With ATF prices in India--deregulated since 2001 and revised monthly based on international benchmarks, facing extraordinary pressure due to global energy disruptions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a steep increase of over 100% was anticipated from 1 April. In this challenging context, the decision by PSU Oil Marketing Companies, under the Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the Ministry ...