Airline lobby group IATA met with Brazilian government officials this week to discuss the high costs faced by carriers in the country, which they say have hindered President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's efforts to bring down airfares. The government has been keen to find ways to make airfares more affordable as ticket prices hit Brazil's main consumer inflation index. Measures so far have included credit lines to fund engine maintenance plans, and the government has previously said it was working to structure a fund of up to 6 billion reais ($1.21 billion) to help finance carriers.