Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday rejected claims that the government is considering mixing ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), terming such reports misleading and warning against spreading misinformation on matters related to flight safety.

The clarification came after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal raised concerns over an alleged proposal to blend ethanol with aviation fuel, claiming it could affect air travel safety.

Responding through a post on social media platform X, Naidu said the claims were entirely baseless and urged people not to create unnecessary concerns among passengers.

“There is no such proposal under consideration. Spreading misinformation about aviation safety only creates unwarranted fear among air travellers. Ensuring passenger safety remains the government’s top priority,” the minister stated.

Naidu also highlighted the difference between ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), saying the two should not be confused. He explained that SAF is a globally recognised aviation fuel approved by international aviation authorities, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and is being adopted by several countries to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector.

The minister added that SAF goes through extensive testing and certification processes to ensure it meets strict international safety and performance requirements before being used in aircraft.

Meanwhile, the government has informed Parliament that India’s airport infrastructure has witnessed major expansion, with the country’s annual passenger handling capacity now crossing 580 million.

The rise in capacity has been attributed to ongoing modernisation and expansion projects carried out by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private airport operators. These developments are being planned based on passenger growth, airline requirements, operational needs, financial feasibility and technical assessments.