India, July 31 -- IndiGo Managing Director Rahul Bhatia urged the government to cut taxes and rationalise airport charges, arguing that lower airfares would unlock "massive" demand in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets and accusing policymakers of taxing flying as if it were "an elitist mode of transport".

"On the one side, we say that flying by air has become a public utility, yet we treat taxes on it as if it's an elitist mode of transport," Bhatia told PTI in an interview.

"I think some of these things have to get rationalised. Because the Indian consumer is so price sensitive that if you can lower fares, you just open up a massive demand."

Bhatia said airlines had largely absorbed cost pressures instead of passing ...