| Phrases such as 'adding fuel to fire' and 'fuelling | | | | that to cope up with the soaring ATF prices, the |
| speculations' may be too costly to utter at anybody's | | | | government of India has reduced the Customs duty |
| whim at a time when the whole world is reeling under | | | | from 10% to 5%. Sadly enough, Air India has taken |
| a severe fuel crisis. Prices of fuel irrespective of the | | | | another beating in that the United States based |
| end use have become dearer - be it Liquefied | | | | reputation institute, which conducted and annual global |
| Petroleum Gas for cooking or gasoline for cars or | | | | survey 'Global 200' has concluded that Air India has |
| flying machines. Nations like India have never seen | | | | the weakest corporate reputation. |
| such a onetime increase in gas. The jack-up in prices | | | | State run oil firms in India have hiked prices of ATF |
| of petrol is a recipe for intensive attacks by political | | | | by 18.5%. The cost of ATF per Kiloliter in Delhi has |
| opponents against Indian rulers. Maybe this is the | | | | gone up from $1390.48 to $ 1648.26. In Mumbai, jet |
| buzzword for a ubiquitous political attack by | | | | fuel prices went up from $1543.45 to $ 1824.40. Air |
| opposition parties all over the world as the issue is | | | | India recently announced an increase in the fuel |
| assuming gargantuan proportions. | | | | surcharge in 2 slabs; For domestic travelers at the |
| Crude oil has become an ogre of sorts in the global | | | | rate of Rs.300/- per passenger for flights that have |
| fuel scene. Rising costs of ATF (Aviation Turbine | | | | destinations up to 750km and Rs.550/- per passenger |
| Fuel) is thinning the wallets of passengers in air traffic | | | | for over 750 km. Private Air carriers have followed |
| as also air carriers, which is prompting the | | | | suit with Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines hiking |
| managements to reduce the number of flights. In the | | | | surcharge between Rs.300-Rs.550/-.With this hike, |
| Unites States air, travel has become inevitable for | | | | passengers in India would be charged Rs.2250 and |
| couples, many of whom are youngsters separated | | | | Rs.2900 for journeys up to 750 km and beyond 750 |
| by education and jobs that necessitate frequent | | | | km respectively. |
| flying at weekends. The rising fuel costs have | | | | Commercial sources say the rise is a whopping 220% |
| become a deterrent for such people - and regular | | | | in 2 years, though only 8% to 10% is passed on to |
| flyers in general, because of the sharp escalation in | | | | consumers. Significantly, there has been a global price |
| fuel prices. | | | | in ATF in the last couple of months. This has led to |
| A case in point is the cancellation of the cheap and | | | | many international air carriers curtailing operations. |
| direct route flight from Boston to Philadelphia by the | | | | Sources reveal Airlines in India have lost Rs. 4000 |
| airline Airtran. The carrier was constrained to cancel | | | | Crore in 2007 -2008 due to rising oil prices. |
| the flight because of the skyrocketing gas prices. | | | | A never-before scene is being witnessed in the |
| The passengers are forced to either cut short their | | | | media with many a tip on saving fuel, which suggest |
| number of visits or endure the most of shelling out | | | | the likes of traveling together, cycling for short |
| hundreds of dollars extra - to keep going steady with | | | | distances, planning multitasks in a single trip etc. While |
| their relationships and meeting schedules. Reports | | | | Virgin Galactic, the reputed airline has made a trial |
| reveal how a passenger takes a train to Providence, | | | | with bio-fuel, controversies exist among the |
| a bus to T.F.Green Airport, and flies Southwest | | | | intelligentsia about its continued success. |
| Airlines for about $160 dollars each visit - in order to | | | | The meeting of the G-8 nations joined by India, China |
| avoid $300 plus roundtrip flights on other airlines. | | | | and South Korea at Aomori in Japan focused on the |
| There has also been an indirect rise in expenses since | | | | importance of renewable energy sources to tackle |
| part of the journey goes in driving to Airports due to | | | | the problem of fuel production. The gravity of the |
| cancellation of flights like Airtran. Driving to | | | | global situation regarding fuel was well understood, |
| Manchester and parking at Manchester Boston | | | | when the US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman |
| Regional Airport causes an additional dent in the | | | | advocated aggressive investment in renewable |
| pockets by way of a $10 parking fee a day, which | | | | energy and augmenting conventional hydrocarbon |
| commuters reportedly lament. Experience in bus | | | | sources. |
| commuting has also become costlier as the bus fares | | | | The development of alternative fuels is still in the |
| had raised again. And the culprit is the much sought | | | | nascent stage and one only hopes that a day may |
| after gas. | | | | come, when the dependency of fuels such as petrol |
| According to IATA (International Air Transport | | | | and diesel plummets to the barest minimum. Let us |
| Association) figures, 24 air carriers have clipped their | | | | hope we bask in the glory of fuel prices of the |
| wings across the globe because of burgeoning ATF | | | | bygone eras, which would lessen the burden of travel |
| prices. The scene is worse in India, where 40% of | | | | and increase the pleasure of being on skies of idyll. |
| operating costs go for higher taxes. It is small relief | | | | |