Operationalcost of Kingfisher Airlines is among the lowest in the country and iscomparable to that of budget airlines like SpiceJet, airline's chief VijayMallya has said.

"Kingfisher is perhaps one of the lowest cost operators in India...Very efficient. We have always believed in outsourcing model. We have less than100 people (employees) per aircraft. I can guarantee you that my cost ofoperations is perhaps the lowest in India and is comparable to (that of)Spicejet and Indigo," Mallya told private news channel CNBC TV18 in aninterview.

He said the government is "over taxing hugely" the airlines and addedthat if taxes, especially the sales tax on jet fuel, are rationalised thefinancial health of the industry would improve significantly.

"The government is over taxing hugely the aviation industry interms of fuel... This is one of the serious disadvantages...," he said. Ondebts, Mallya said that the position is not worrisome as is generallyperceived.

"The debt of Kingfisher is backed by a business that is cashflowing, (has) airplanes ... The airport infrastructure that we have bought andinvested in...The debts are represented by certain assets," he said.