New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met heads of India’s private airlines here today and discussed their problems.

The meeting with chiefs of the cash-strapped airlines, was prompted by the crisis that has overtaken the Kingfisher Airlines.

It was not known officially immediately what precisely was discussed at the meeting but sources said the problems of the aviation industry and possible solutions to bring them out of the red were deliberated upon.

The sources also said the airlines chiefs pointed out that the recent steep increase in fuel prices was one of the reasons for problems in the aviation industry.

The Prime Minister had recently stressed the need for private airlines to be managed efficiently.

He had also said ways and means had to be found to help them if they had difficulties.