Thiruvananthapuram, July 11: National carrier air India will reduce passenger and cargo fares on the gulf sector from August, Union minister of state for civil aviation Shripad Naik said today.

Air India had made a profit of Rs. 30.50 crore in the last financial year, he told reporters at the airport here after taking part in a ceremony to mark the take over of the airport security by the Central Industrial Security Force. The Centre has given permission for purchase of 33 aircraft for both the domestic and international sectors and this would enable Air India to operate services on new routes, the minister said.

To a question, he said the government had not thought about privatising airports. However, development of new airports would be taken up with private participation as in the case of Nedumbassery Airport at Kochi. Earlier speaking at the ceremony, he said the quality of the security at airports had improved with CISF's induction.

Naik wanted the Kerala government to reduce the sales tax on aviation fuel as was done by Andhra Pradesh. The cost saved thus could be spent on providing better facilities for passengers.

Thiruvananthapuram is the 39th airport where CISF had taken over the security. Bureau Report