Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

19-April-2012 17:12 IST

Companies in the Aviation Sector Allowed to Avail of ECBS for Working Capital Requirements

The rapid growth of the Aviation sector in India has generated demand for additional finance for working capital and capacity expansion. High operating costs, particularly on account of high fuel costs, have put additional stress on the Airline Industry.

In order to alleviate the immediate financing concerns of the Civil Aviation sector, Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget Speech 2012-13, had announced that companies in the aviation sector would be allowed to avail of ECBs for a period of one year for working capital/refinancing of outstanding working capital rupee loan(s).

The ECB made under this provision would have a maximum ceiling of USD 1 billion for the entire Civil Aviation sector. The limit for individual airline companies would be US$ 300 million. This limit can be availed either in a lump sum or in tranches depending upon the utilization of the limit during the 1 year when the facility is available.

Proposals of individual companies would be considered by RBI under the approval route based on the parameters such as cash flows and the capacity of individual companies to repay these loans from their foreign exchange earnings. In order to increase access to ECBs, RBI would consider relaxation in the average maturity period for ECBs above USD 20 million from five to three years.

This policy decision will provide an additional source of capital low cost to the Airline Industry and help them tide over their present financial crunch. RBI is expected to issue relevant circular/notification giving effect to the aforesaid Budget announcement within 7 days.

SS/GN

External Commercial Borrowings allowed for aviation working capital under approval route, subject to sectoral and company limits. A temporary facility permits aviation companies to obtain External Commercial Borrowings for working capital and to refinance rupee working capital loans subject to a sectoral aggregate ceiling and individual company caps; approvals are granted under the approval route based on cash flows and ability to repay from foreign exchange earnings, and the monetary authority may relax average maturity requirements for larger ECBs while issuing implementation instructions.