Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 20/07/2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags:

AIRPORTS ECONOMIC REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019

 

For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: About the bill, Why was AERA created, Role of AERA


 

News Flash

The Rajya Sabha passed a bill allowing the AERA to bid out any new airport at a pre-determined tariff structure.

  • 16 airports will be in the purview of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).
  • Currently, there are 32 major airports with an annual capacity to handle fifteen lakh passengers come under the purview of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India.

 

Amendment

  • The definition of major airports would be changed to any aerodrome which has or is designated to have an annual passenger capacity of thirty-five lakh.
  • It bill amends the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
  • The Act established the AERA.
  • The Bill adds that AERA will not determine: (i) the tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) the development fees, in certain cases.

 

Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India

The AERA is a regulator that has the powers to set the tariffs charged at airports.

Under the Act, AERA is responsible for determining:

(i) the tariff for aeronautical services at different airports every five years

(ii) the development fees of major airports

(iii) the passengers’ service fee.

 

Why was AERA created?

  • A few years back, private players started operating civilian airports.
  • Typically, airports run the risk of becoming a monopoly because cities usually have one civilian airport which controls all aeronautical services in that area.
  • To ensure that private airport operators do not misuse their monopoly, the need for an independent tariff regulator in the airport sector was felt.
  • Consequently, the AERA Act, 2008 was passed which set up AERA.

 

What is the role of AERA?

  • AERA regulates tariffs and other charges (development fee and passenger service fee) for aeronautical services (air traffic management, landing, and parking of aircraft, ground handling services) at major airports.
  • Major airports include civilian airports with annual traffic above 15 lakh passengers.
  • In 2018-19, there were 32 such airports.
  • As of June 2019, 27 of these are being regulated by AERA (AERA also regulates tariffs at the Kannur airport which was used by 89,127 passengers in 2018-19).
  • For the remaining airports, tariffs are determined by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is a body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that also operates airports.

 

Source: The Hindu

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