The Hindu Business Line : Bill on airport regulator ready for Cabinet perusal

The proposal for setting up an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) will be shortly sent to the Cabinet for its approval, according to the Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr Ajay Prasad.

"The Bill for establishing the regulator is ready and will be sent to the Cabinet shortly. We hope to be able to introduce it in Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session," Mr Prasad told newspersons on the sidelines of a conference on `Aviation and tourism in India-The march ahead.'

The proposed regulator is to look into a host of issues including determining tariffs at the major airports and ensuring that there is a level playing field for all airports.

Airport modernisation

Meanwhile, the Centre is yet to complete consultations with the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Governments on the route to be followed for modernisation of the airports there, the Secretary added.

The authorities, however, are taking a number of steps to ensure that the facilities at the two airports are improved so that passengers do not suffer.

In the case of the Kolkata airport, an international cargo facility is to become ready soon.

Asked whether the limited open sky policy would be implemented during the forthcoming winter session, the Secretary said that no decision had yet been taken on this issue.

"The Government has not yet received any request from a single airline asking for more seats during the peak winter season. In the recent past we have followed a very liberal bilateral air services policy, which has eased the situation. There has been a 65 per cent increase in international air seats becoming available during the past five years."

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