Lok Sabha passes bill to amend Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act

The Lok Sabha on Thursday, through a voice vote, passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was tabled in Parliament by the newly inducted Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiradtiya Scindia for passing. The bill was earlier brought to Parliament in March this year and was referred for a review by the standing committee on transport, tourism, and culture. The bill seeks to amend the 2008 Act by modifying the definition of “major airport” as under the current law, tariffs for the aeronautical services of a group of airports together cannot be determined. The amendment will now insert a provision in the original Act for tariff determination of a “group of airports.” Presenting the bill, Scindia said that under this new clubbing, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will give priority to airports in smaller cities while newer airports will also be inaugurated. He also listed various areas which have been the beneficiaries of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme of the government. Apart from newer airports in Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Scindia specifically spoke about Darbhanga Airport in Bihar which, he said, was “missing” from the map of civil aviation and had now witnessed 110 flight movements from there to various parts of India since last one and a half year. “We have identified five zones for this clubbing which include north, south, east, west, and northeast zone. Based on this clubbing... the Airport Authority of India will be giving priority to airports in smaller cities and newer airports will also be inaugurated…,” he said, adding that the government has the vision to make new airports and also lend a “cross-subsidy” towards the smaller airports. “While today we have 128 airports and 713 airplanes, we are aimed to lead... the aviation sector globally in coming future,” he said. Following Scindia’s speech, the bill was passed in Lok Sabha through a voice vote.