Airport regulator to set tariffs, draft common standards

New Delhi: The proposed Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Bill, to be introduced in Parliament in the 2007 Budget session, will do more than just fix tariffs for various airport facilities. The regulator would also play an active role in setting uniform standards across airports.
The finance ministry had earlier urged the civil aviation ministry to broaden the functions of AERA. According to official sources, the ministry has included the suggestions made by the finance ministry and the defence ministry in finalising the Bill.
Apart from fixing tariffs for airport facilities, the regulator would set up standards at airports rather than letting the government do it. The finance ministry had said that since the ‘state-owned’ Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a major airport services provider, the Centre cannot be seen as impartial in setting the standards.
The proposed regulator would also cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to fix airport standards that are at par with international practices. AERA will be headed by a chairman and supported by two members.
22/12/06 Sunny Verma/Economic Times

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