Airport privatisation gets a fillip as Lok Sabha passes AERA bill
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Amendment Bill paving the way for privatisation of a small loss making airport by clubbing it with a larger airport.
The amendment bill was introduced by civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and passed amid din in the lower house. It proposes to modify the definition of a major airport under the AERA Act 2008 and will have to be passed by the Rajya Sabha for the amendment to come into effect.
The move to club smaller loss-making Airport Authority of India (AAI)-run airports with larger ones is being undertaken following criticism of the existing policy. It was felt privatising larger airports would leave AAI saddled with only small loss-making airports.
