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Paramount to approach TN, Kerala for cut in ATF tax

Hyderbad, Sep 6 (UNI)

Even as it launches ‘‘First Class’’ service on its flights on the Hyderabad Sector from October two, Paramount Airways plans to approach Tamil Nadu and Kerala Governments for reduction in Sales Tax (ST) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices.
Company Mannaging Director M Thiagarajan told the media here today he would also meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandann seeking ST reduction on ATF similar to Andhra Pradesh.
He claimed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had ‘‘agreed to reduce the tax on ATF from 29 per cent to four per cent provided Paramount Airways operated 150 flights a week.’’
By September 2006, Paramount will station two 75-seater Embraer Aircrafts at Hyderabad and add two more flights to Chennai besides launching operations to Tirupati and Visakhapatnam in October 2006.
 By early November 2006, Hyderabad will be connected to Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore before linking it daily to Kochi and Coimbatore.
Focussing primarily on consolidation in South India, the Airways plans to foray into the Northern and Western region after the winter season, sometime in 2007. By end 2007, Parmaount will acquire 12 Embraer variants and add three more aircrafts by early 2008.
The Company is also planninng to acquire the latest 190/200 Embraer which will have 15 first class and 84 business class seats.
The two variants presently allow 11 first class and 64 business class seats.
The soft launch of first class service which provides a choice of seats and meals from among 16 options was also showcased at the annual meet of TAAI which ended here on September four.