Chiefs of Indian private airlines today met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention to help the carriers tide over the deep financial crisis.

There was no specific assurance from the Prime Minister at the hour-long meeting but he is understood to have said that the government will be ready to help the cash-strapped carriers address their legitimate grievances.

According to sources, the top bosses of all private carriers suggested measures like rationalising taxes and duties on jet fuel prices and other items and reduction in airport charges.

They also raised issues like allowing the airlines to utilise the bilateral air traffic rights on international routes which remained unused by the carriers to whom they were allotted.

The airline chiefs wanted steps to expedite the ground handling policy, which is currently before the courts.

Those present at the meeting included Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal, Indigo promoter Rahul Bhatia, its CEO Aditya Ghosh, SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills, Kingfisher CEO Sanjay Aggarwal and Go Air owner Jeh Wadia.

A representative from GMR, which runs airports in Delhi and Hyderabad, was also present.