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Journalism of Courage
As the government proceeds with privatisation of six airports,global airlines body IATA has noted that most airports across the world are state-owned and aviation policy makers should take decisions in this regard keeping in view interests of airlines and passengers.
“The airport sector has not gone through the same process
of structural transformation as the airline sector. Only nine
per cent of European airports are in full private ownership,
while 78 per cent remain fully publicly-owned,” International
Air Transport Association said in its latest report titled
‘Airport Competition’.
According to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated
Airport Systems released by the US Department of
Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration,there were
over 19,700 airports in the US and,of them,5,170 airports
are open to the general public.
“Most US commercial service airports are typically owned
by local or state governments,either directly or through an
authority (a quasi-governmental body established to operate
the airport),” says Airlines for America (A4A),a body
recognised by US Congress and all government bodies.
It says “while Congress established a ‘privatisation
program’ in 1997 under which the airport ownership would be
transferred to a non-governmental entity,no airport currently
participates in this program.”
In its report,the IATA said the process of privatisation
of airports “is far from complete and so many airports remain
insulated from competitive pressures.”
