Whalesbook
Arre yaar, ye Jet Fuel (ATF) prices ka jo naya policy aaya hai na, usne toh charter operators ki neend uda di hai.
April se inka kharcha doubled se bhi zyada ho gaya hai, lagbhag ₹2 lakh per kilolitre tak pahunch gaya hai bade cities mein. Suna hai 100% se bhi zyada increase hai!
Par mazey ki baat ye hai ki ye sirf charter flights ke liye hai. Commercial airlines ko toh oil companies ne sambhal liya hai, unka global price jump ka 75% tak cover kar rahi hain. Matlab, unke liye price hike kam hua.
Is baat se Business Jet Operators Association (BAOA) – jisme 80+ operators hain – kaafi naraaz hai. Unka kehna hai ki ye policy discriminatory hai aur desh ke sidhe constitutional principles ke khilaaf jaa rahi hai.
Aur ye sirf paison ki baat nahi hai, dosto! Ye jo charter flights hain na, ye disaster relief, air ambulance services aur security forces ke liye bohot important hain. Jab fuel hi itna mehenga ho jayega, toh ye sab services kaise chalengi?
Ab ye fuel price spike kyun hua? Simple hai - global tensions. West Asia mein jo conflict chal raha hai aur Strait of Hormuz mein jo threats hain, usse crude oil aur refined fuels ke prices bhag gaye hain.
Late February mein jo refining margins (crack spread) $24.28 per barrel the, woh March end tak $80 cross kar gaye! International Air Transport Association (IATA) ne bhi kaha hai ki jet fuel spread 250% tak badh gaya hai late February aur late March ke beech.
Charter operators already airport fees, pilot shortage aur staff expenses jaise bohot saare costs face kar rahe hain. Badi airlines jitna ye log shocks handle nahi kar sakte.
BAOA ke MD, RK Bali, ka kehna hai ki ye policy National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 ke khilaaf hai, jo regional travel ko badhana chahti hai. HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) jaise cheezon mein already issues hain, aur ye fuel price hike usko aur kharab karega.
Overall, ye unfair approach general aviation sector ke liye risky hai. Jisko national aviation policy ke liye zaruri mana jaata hai, usko hi pressure mein dal diya hai.