Lok Sabha passes AERA Amendment Bill

On July 29, 2021, the Lok Sabha passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Amendment Bill. The purpose of this amendment is to pair smaller non-profitable airports with profitable airports as a combination/package to bidders, in order to make it a viable combination for investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. This move is also likely to help in expanding air connectivity to relatively remote areas and as a result expediting the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik scheme. The amendment will allow AERA to regulate tariff and other charges for aeronautical services for not only major airports with annual passenger traffic of more than 3.5 million, but also for a bunch of other airports.