Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday, 6 August firmly rejected allegations that the government was planning to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), calling the claims entirely false and cautioning that such misinformation endangers public confidence in air travel safety. The denial came in response to assertions made by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had alleged that the Centre was considering mixing ethanol into ATF — a claim the ministry has categorically refuted.

What the Minister Said

Naidu addressed the controversy directly through a post on social media platform X, stating that the allegations were 'completely false and irresponsible.' In his post, he said: 'There is no such proposal. Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government's highest priority.'

The minister emphasised that the government has no proposal under consideration to blend ethanol with ATF, and urged the public not to be misled by politically motivated claims.

Ethanol vs Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Key Distinction

Naidu also used the occasion to draw a clear line between ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — two fuels that critics argue are being conflated in public discourse. According to the minister, SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is already in use across several countries as part of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector.

Unlike ethanol, SAF undergoes rigorous testing and must meet global safety and performance benchmarks before it is cleared for use in commercial aircraft operations. The distinction is significant: ethanol has not been approved for use in jet engines under any international standard, while SAF is specifically engineered for aviation use.

Airport Infrastructure Boost

Separately, the government this week informed Parliament that India's airport infrastructure has crossed a significant milestone, with the country's total annual passenger handling capacity now surpassing 580 million passengers. The expansion has been driven by continuous modernisation initiatives by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private airport operators.

According to official statements, these infrastructure projects are being rolled out based on traffic growth projections, operational requirements, airline demand, financial viability, and techno-economic assessments.

Political Context

Kejriwal's allegation comes at a time when aviation safety is a topic of heightened public sensitivity, following several high-profile incidents involving Indian carriers in recent months. Critics argue that raising safety concerns without verified basis can trigger unwarranted alarm among the flying public. The government's swift rebuttal signals its intent to contain any narrative that could affect passenger confidence ahead of a busy travel season.

With India's civil aviation sector on an aggressive expansion trajectory — targeting over 200 operational airports in the coming years — the ministry is clearly keen to keep the focus on growth rather than controversy.