Govt will try to help domestic airlines: Patel

Domestic airlines in India are facing losses of 70-80 billion rupees ($1.4-$1.6 billion) due to high jet fuel costs, and the government will try to help them tide over the difficulty, the aviation minister said on Friday.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel did not give details as to how the government would help the airlines, but said it was trying to persuade state government's to reduce taxes on jet fuel and was asking oil firms to help out.

"We must try to rationalise taxes. Oil companies must also co-operate," he said.