New Delhi, Aug 2 - State-run national carrier Air India will push more flights into service Aug 18 following threats from private airlines that they would suspend operations the same day if airport charges and fuel taxes were not slashed.

According to an official spokesperson, Air India will increase the number of flights to minimise any inconvenience to passengers.

'The national carrier will rise to the occasion and ensure that the inconvenience is minimised,' an official spokesperson told IANS Sunday.

However, low-cost carrier IndiGo in a late night development said it would not participate in the strike and rather hold a dialogue with the government.

'IndiGo appreciates the sentiments expressed by the ministry of civil aviation that it understands the problems faced by the Indian aviation industry and that we should all engage in a dialogue with the ministry,' said IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh in a statement.

'IndiGo also wishes to thank all its customers and passengers for their overwhelming support and we wish to reassure them that IndiGo will be operating its normal scheduled service on August 18, 2009.'

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Saturday asked the private airlines not to suspend operations Aug 18 and come to the table for discussions rather than inconvenience passengers.

The regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), also stepped in Saturday, seeking a formal explanation within 48 hours and saying failure to do so would attract legal action based on the Aircraft Act.