New Delhi, April 28 -- Major Indian airlines have told the Union government that the airline industry of the country is on the verge of shutting down due to the rising cost of aviation fuel, and have sought ATF price revision as well as financial support.

Airlines which sent the letter to the civil aviation ministry via the the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), sought steps to extend the same fuel pricing mechanism for both domestic as well as international operations.

The West Asia crisis, which has hindered energy supplies all around the world, has also driven up oil prices. Restrictions on airspaces have also shot up operating costs of airlines. Notably, among an airline's operational expenses, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) accounts...