Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Saturday asked the Airline industry to cut air fares for making air travel cheaper in the country. The government has helped the industry and it is waiting for positive response from the aviation companies.

Soon after banning smoking in public places, liquor advertisements are next on the Health Ministry's radar, with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramados pushing the Civil Aviation Ministry to remove the 'grandiose' display of advertisements of alcoholic drinks in airports, including the duty free shops.

New Delhi, Oct 22 : Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today said that India''s airline companies are to repay upto 28 billion rupees outstanding aviation fuel dues to state-run refineries by March 2009 in six monthly installments.

Talking to reporters after meeting with Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Patel said that oil firms have agreed to raise the credit period for local carriers to 90 days from 60 days, and refineries would revise jet fuel prices every 15 days instead of 30 days.

New Delhi, Oct 22 : Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today said that India''s airline companies are to repay upto 28 billion rupees outstanding aviation fuel dues to state-run refineries by March 2009 in six monthly installments.

New Delhi, Oct 17 : Taking the credit for last night''s reinstatement of Jet Airways'' sacked employees, nearly 1900 in number, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel today said that the employees were taken back by the Airlines after he had asked its chief Naresh Goyal to do the same.

"I did speak to Naresh Goyal and impressed upon him. We need a permanent solution, as losses in airlines are severe," said Praful Patel.

Hyderabad, Oct. 16 :Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said that there will be no retrenchment in Air India.

"I have no information about this. I will be able to say something only after speaking to Air India Chairman. There is not going to be any retrenchment of staff in Air India. I have full sympathy towards Jet Airways workers. But this matter is also being looked into by other departments like the labour department. I will also try to do something about it. But what I said yesterday was because the labour ministry was also looking into it,"said Patel.