Airports to have own regulators

A select group of airports across the country would soon have an independent regulator to report to. The government is planning to put in place an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority

A select group of airports across the country would soon have an independent regulator to report to. The government is planning to put in place an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to ‘‘fix tariffs and monitor standards’’ of the country’s major airports, particularly those in private hands.

The draft for the AERA Bill is all set to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting, following which it would be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament. ‘‘We are trying to get it introduced in Parliament in this session itself,’’ said Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad.

To be modeled on the lines of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, AERA would mainly aim at ensuring a level playing field for all players.

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‘‘In times to come, different operators would run different airports. The airlines need to be assured that tariffs charged from them would commensurate with the facilities being provided. A regulator outside the government system would set the tariffs and ensure performance targets are met,’’ said Prasad.

The airports would be brought under AERA’s purview slowly.

‘‘The Government, from time to time, will notify the airports to be brought under the Act’s purview. There is no point in overburdening a regulator with unnecessary work,’’ said Prasad. ‘‘But airports in private hands would particularly be brought under the Act,’’ said Prasad.

AERA, said officials, would issue guidelines to service providers, finalise various aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges and also act as an arbitrator between users and service providers.

raghvendra.rao@expressindia.com

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