Fuel supply cut by IOC, BP, HP doesn’t reflect on Air India’s performance, efforts, says CMD

Fuel supply cut by Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum to the national carrier Air India on Thursday at six airports due to pending fuel bills by almost eight months is because of an ‘overall lack of adequate funds’, according to Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani even as it doesn’t reflect on the operational performance and recent efforts of the airline in any way, Lohani said in a statement.

The three state-owned oil companies had stopped the supply of jet fuel or ATF supplies to the airline at Mohali, Patna, Kochi, Vizag, Pune, and Ranchi due non-payments of bills, IANS reported. The decision by the three firms was taken “in the wake of long-overdue payments to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore,” an IOC statement said on behalf of the three firms. The pending dues include the interest accrued on the outstanding dues.