Home India Airports Authority of India Operations In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42...
Date: 20-Apr-2023 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Operations In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Airports Authority of India Act,

Issued by Airports Authority of India · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

What it means

  • The gazette notification introduces the Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Amendment Regulations, 2023. These regulations amend the Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2018.
  • The amendments address various aspects of ground handling services at airports, including self-handling by airlines, the number of ground handling agencies at airports based on passenger throughput, and provisions related to public sector undertakings (PSUs) and their subsidiaries or joint ventures involved in ground handling.
  • The regulations also address situations where a ground handling agency or its controlling entity has significant influence over another ground handling agency at the same airport.

Key Changes

  • Domestic scheduled airline operators and domestic scheduled helicopter operators may carry out ground handling activities solely for self-handling purposes at all airports, including civil enclaves.
  • For airports with an annual passenger throughput of ten million or more, the airport operator must ensure there are three ground handling agencies. These can include the airport operator (or its JV/subsidiary under specific conditions), a PSU subsidiary/JV (or a selected agency via bidding if no PSU option exists), and any other agency appointed through transparent bidding.
  • For airports with less than ten million annual passengers, the airport operator can decide the number of ground handling agencies (up to three), with similar provisions for the airport operator, PSU subsidiaries/JVs, and other agencies selected through bidding.
  • PSU subsidiaries or JVs involved in ground handling must match the lowest royalty or revenue share paid by other ground handling agencies at the airport.
  • Provisions related to PSU subsidiaries/JVs continue to apply as long as the entity remains a PSU subsidiary/JV. If the entity ceases to be a PSU subsidiary/JV, these provisions remain in effect until the earlier of 84 months or a change in more than 50% of the shareholding (subject to lock-in period exceptions).
  • A successor entity acquiring a ground handling agency at a civil enclave will continue to be subject to the same regulations for PSU subsidiaries/JVs, provided sub-regulation (6) is complied with and there is no change in more than 50% shareholding for 84 months (subject to lock-in period exceptions).
  • A new sub-regulation (8A) is introduced to prevent a ground handling agency or its controlling entity from having significant influence over another ground handling agency operating at the same airport. If such influence exists or is acquired, the two agencies will be treated as a single entity. The airport operator must then appoint another ground handling agency through a transparent bidding process. The entity has 24 months to reorganize the businesses to ensure only one operates, or the agency with the shorter concession period will be deemed to have surrendered its concession.
  • The terms 'significant influence' and 'control' are defined as per the Companies Act, 2013.

Impact Analysis

Domestic Airlines/Helicopter Operators

  • Action Items: Review current self-handling operations and ensure compliance with relevant safety and operational standards. Assess potential cost savings and efficiency gains from self-handling.

Airport Operators

  • Airport operators need to appoint another ground handling agency through a transparent bidding process if a ground handling agency or the person(s) controlling the ground handling agency has significant influence in another ground handling agency operating on the same airport or acquires significant influence in another ground handling agency operating on the same airport pursuant to an acquisition from a public sector enterprise.

Ground Handling Agencies (including PSU Subsidiaries/JVs)

  • Ground handling agencies need to reorganize or restructure the business of the ground handling agencies to ensure that on completion of such twenty four month period, only one of the two ground agencies operates at the relevant airport; or on expiry of twenty four months of such acquisition, of the two ground handling agencies, the ground handling agency with the shorter outstanding concession period, shall be deemed to have surrendered its concession at the relevant airport.

Private Sector Entities

  • Action Items: Conduct thorough due diligence when acquiring ground handling agencies from PSUs, paying close attention to lock-in periods and shareholding restrictions. Ensure compliance with the 'significant influence' clause to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Key Entities Referenced

Airports Authority of India (AAI): The regulatory body responsible for making and amending regulations related to ground handling services at Indian airports. Central Government: Provides prior approval for the regulations made by the Airports Authority of India. Domestic Scheduled Airline Operators: Airlines operating scheduled flights within India. Domestic Scheduled Helicopter Operators: Helicopter operators providing scheduled services within India. Airport Operators: Entities responsible for managing and operating airports. Ground Handling Agencies: Companies providing ground handling services at airports, including PSU subsidiaries/JVs and other agencies. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): Government-owned enterprises. Companies Act, 2013: Indian legislation defining the terms 'significant influence' and 'control'. Airports Authority of India Act, 1994: Act that empowers AAI to make regulations. Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2018: The original regulations being amended by this notification.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-21042023-245300 xxxGIDHxxx CG-DL-E-21042023-245300 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग III—खण् ड 4 PART III—Section 4 प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 257] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, अप्रलै 20, 2023/चत्रै 30, 1945 No. 257] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023/CHAITRA 30, 1945 भारतीय जिमानपत्त न प्राजधकरण अजधसचू ना नई दिल्ली, 20 अप्रैल, 2023 फा.स.ं ओपी-89012/2/2022.—ऑपरेिन- भारतीय जिमानपत्तन प्राजधकरण अजधजनयम, 1994 (1994 का 55) की धारा 42 द्वारा प्रित् त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, भारतीय जिमानपत्तन प्राजधकरण, केंद्रीय सरकार के पूि व अनुमोिन के साथ एतद्द्वारा भारतीय जिमानपत्तन प्राजधकरण (ग्राउंड हडैं ललगं सर्िवसेि) जिजनयम, 2018 म ें संिोधन करन े के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जिजनयम िारी करता ह,ै नामत:— 1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ—(1) इन जिजनयमों को भारतीय जिमानपत्तन प्राजधकरण (ग्राउंड हडैं ललंग सर्िवसेि) संिोधन जिजनयम, 2023 कहा िाएगा। (2) य ेजिजनयम सरकारी रािपत्र म ें इनके प्रकािन की जतजथ स े लागू होंगे। 2. भारतीय जिमानपत्तन प्राजधकरण (ग्राउंड हडैं ललगं सर्िवसेि) जिजनयम, 2018 म,ें जिजनयम 3 म,ें-- (i) उप-जिजनयम (1) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उप-जिजनयम को प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, नामत:— (1) सभी घरेल ूअनुसूजचत एयरलाइन ऑपरेटर तथा घरेल ूअनुसूजचत हले ीकॉप्टर ऑपरेटर, जसजिल एन्क्लेिों सजहत सभी हिाईअड्डों पर केिल सल्ेफ-हडैंललगं के उद्देश्य स ेग्राउंड हडैंललंग गजतजिजधयों का दियान्कियन कर सकत ेह।ैं (ii) उप-जिजनयम (4) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उप-जिजनयम को प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, नामत:— 2577 GI/2023 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] (4) प्रजत िर् विस जमजलयन या उससे अजधक याजत्रयों के िार्र्वक यात्री थ्रूपुट िाल ेहिाईअड्ड ेपर, हिाईअड्डा प्रचालक को यह सुजनजित करना होगा दक तीन ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंजसयां होंगी, जिनम ेंजनम्नजलजखत िाजमल ह,ैं — (क) एयरपोटव प्रचालक या उसके संयुि उद्यम अथिा उसके सौ प्रजतित स्ट्िाजमत्ि-िाली सहायक कंपनी, बित ेइस मोड का उपयोग केिल तभी दकया िाता ह ैिब एयरपोटव प्रचालक न ेखंड (ग) के तहत बोजलयां आमंजत्रत की हों तथा दकसी भी बोलीिाता को उपयुि नहीं पाया गया हो या उसका चयन नहीं दकया गया हो। (ख) उप-जिजनयम (8) एि ं(8क) के अध्यधीन, दकसी सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम का सहायक या संयुि उद्यम। सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम का कोई सहायक या संयुि उद्यम नहीं होन ेकी जस्ट्थजत म,ें खडं (ग) के तहत बोली प्रदिया के माध्यम स ेएक ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी का चयन दकया िाएगा; तथा (ग) पारििी बोली प्रदिया के माध्यम स ेएयरपोटव प्रचालक द्वारा जनयुि कोई अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी।" (iii) उप-जिजनयम 5 के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उप-जिजनयम को प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, नामत:— (5) यातायात आउटपुट तथा एयरसाइड एि ंटर्मवनल भिन िमता के आधार पर, प्रजत िर् विस जमजलयन स ेकम याजत्रयों के िार्र्वक यात्री थ्रूपुट िाले हिाईअड्डे पर, हिाईअड्डा प्रचालक ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंजसयों की संख्या पर जनणवय ल े सकता ह,ै िो तीन स ेअजधक न हों, जिसम ेंजनम्न जलजखत िाजमल ह,ैं- (क) हिाईअड्डा प्रचालक अथिा उसके संयुि उद्यम या उसके सौ प्रजतित स्ट्िाजमत्ि िाली सहायक कंपनी, बित े इसका उपयोग केिल तभी दकया िाता ह,ै िब हिाईअड्डा प्रचालक ने खंड (ग) के तहत बोजलयां आमंजत्रत की हों तथा दकसी भी बोलीिाता को उपयुि नहीं पाया गया हो या उसका चयन नहीं दकया गया हो। (ख) उप-जिजनयम (8) एि ं(8क) के अध्यधीन, दकसी सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम की सहायक या संयुि उद्यम। सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम का कोई सहायक या संयुि उद्यम नहीं होन ेकी जस्ट्थजत म,ें खडं (ग) के तहत बोली प्रदिया के माध्यम स ेएक ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी का चयन दकया िाएगा; तथा (ग) पारििी बोली प्रदिया के माध्यम स ेएयरपोटव प्रचालक द्वारा जनयुि कोई अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी।; (iv) उप-जिजनयम (7) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उप-जिजनयम को प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, नामतः— (7) उप-जिजनयम (8) एि ं(8क) के अध्यधीन, सभी हिाईअड्डों पर, सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम की सहायक कंपनी या संयुि उद्यम द्वारा दकया िाने िाला न्कयूनतम रॉयल्टी अथिा रािस्ट्ि िेयर का भुगतान, िैसा लागू हो, ऐसे हिाईअड्ड े पर अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी द्वारा दकए िाने िाल ेभुगतान के बराबर होगा।; (v) उप-जिजनयम (8) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उप-जिजनयम को प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, नामत:- (8) सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम के सहायक या संयुि उद्यम स ेसंबंजधत उप-जिजनयम (4), (5) एि ं(7) के प्रािधान: (i) तब तक लागू रहगें,े िब तक ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी, दकसी सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम की सहायक कंपनी या संयुि उद्यम बनी रहती ह;ै (ii) ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी के जलए ऐसे सभी हिाईअड्डों पर, िहां यह ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी के रूप म ेंकाम कर रही होगी, उस जतजथ तक लाग ूरहगेा, िब तक ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी दकसी सािविजनक ित्रे के उपिम की सहायक कंपनी या संयुि उद्यम नहीं रह िाती। (क) चौरासी महीन,े अथिा (ख) ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिसें ी के पचास प्रजतित स ेअजधक िेयरधाररता म ेंबिलाि होने पर, उस जस्ट्थजत को छोड़कर तथा िहां िेयरधाररता म ेंइस तरह के बिलाि, जनिी ित्रे की संस्ट्था द्वारा ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी के अजधग्रहण के समय तय की गई लॉक-इन अिजध की समाजप्त के उपरांत हुए हों; (iii) जििर्े उद्देश्य िाहक होने के नात,े ऐसी उत्तराजधकारी इकाई के जलए लाग ूरहगेा, िो एक जसजिल एन्क्लेि म ें ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी का अजधग्रहण करती ह,ै बिते: (क) उप-जिजनयम (6) का अनपुालन दकया गया हो, तथा[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 (ख) अजधग्रहण की जतजथ स ेचौरासी महीने की अिजध के िौरान ऐसी उत्तराजधकारी इकाई के पचास प्रजतित स े अजधक िेयरधाररता म ेंकोई बिलाि नहीं होने की जस्ट्थजत म,ें जसिाय इसके दक िेयरधाररता म ेंइस तरह के पररितवन, जनिी ित्रे की संस्ट्था द्वारा ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी के अजधग्रहण के समय तय की गई लॉक-इन अिजध की समाजप्त के उपरांत हुए ह।ैं (iv) उप-जिजनयम (8) के बाि, जनम्नजलजखत को िाजमल दकया िाएगा, नामत:— "(8क) दकसी भी ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी या ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी को जनयंजत्रत करने िाले दकसी भी व्यजि का, उसी हिाईअड्डे पर प्रचालन कर रही दकसी अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी पर महत्िपूण वअजधकार नहीं होगा। यदि ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी या ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी को जनयंजत्रत करन ेिाले व्यजि का उसी हिाईअड्डे पर प्रचालजनक दकसी अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी म ेंमहत्िपूणव अजधकार ह ैअथिा दकसी सािविजनक ित्रे के उद्यम द्वारा अजधग्रहण के पररणामस्ट्िरूप उसी हिाईअड्डे पर प्रचालजनक दकसी अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी म ेंमहत्िपूणव अजधकार प्राप्त करता ह,ै तो: (क) एक ही हिाईअड्डे पर प्रचालजनक िो ग्राउंड एिेंजसयों को, संबंजधत हिाईअड्डे पर, एक ही ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी माना िाएगा; (ख) ऐसे हिाईअड्ड ेके जलए हिाईअड्डा प्रचालक, एक पारििी बोली प्रदिया के माध्यम स,े तरुंत एक अन्कय ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंसी जनयिु करेगा; तथा (ग) (क) इस तरह के अजधग्रहण के चौबीस महीने के भीतर, ऐसी ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी/ ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी को जनयंजत्रत करने िाले व्यजि, इन ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंजसयों के काय वको दफर स ेसंगरित या व् यिजस्ट्थत करेगा तादक यह सुजनजित दकया िा सके दक ऐसी चौबीस महीने की अिजध परूी होन ेपर, संबंजधत हिाईअड्डे पर िोनों ग्राउंड एिेंजसयों म ेंस े केिल एक प्रचालजनक हो; अथिा (ख) यह माना िाएगा दक इस तरह के अजधग्रहण के चौबीस महीने की समाजप्त पर, िोनों ग्राउंड हडैंललगं एिेंजसयों म ेंस,े कम बकाया ररयायत अिजध िाली ग्राउंड हडैंललंग एिेंसी द्वारा संबंजधत हिाईअड्ड ेपर अपनी ररयायत त्याग िी गई ह।ै स्ट्पष्टीकरण: —इस उप-जिजनयम के प्रयोिनों के जलए, "महत्िपूणव अजधकार" एि ं"जनयंत्रण" िब्ि का अथ,व कंपनी अजधजनयम, 2013 (2013 का18) के तहत दिए गए अथ वके अनुसार ही होगा।” संिीि कुमार, अध्यि [जिज्ञापन-III/4/असा./37/2023-24] नोट — मूल जिजनयम, दिनांक 26 अ्टूबर, 2018 की अजधसूचना सख्ं या फा.स.ं एएआई/ओपीएस/707/िीएचआर-2018 के माध्यम स े दिनांक 30 अ्टूबर, 2018 को भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग III, खंड 4, म ें प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े तथा 06 माच,व 2020 के फा.स.ं एएआई/ओपीएस/707/िीएचआर के माध्यम स े अंजतम बार संिोजधत कर, दिनांक 06 माच,व 2020 को भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग III, खंड 4 उप-खंड (i) म ेंप्रकाजित दकए गए थे। AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 20th April, 2023 F. No. OP-89012/2/2022.—Operations- In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 (55 of 1994), the Airports Authority of India with the previous approval of the Central Government hereby makes the following regulations to amend the Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2018 namely:— 1. Short title and commencement.—(1) These regulations may be called the Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Amendment Regulations, 2023. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Airports Authority of India (Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2018, in regulation 3,— (i) for sub-regulation (1), the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:—4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4] (1) All domestic scheduled airline operators and domestic scheduled helicopter operators may carry out ground handling activities solely for the purpose of self-handling at all airports including civil enclaves; (ii) for sub-regulation (4), the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:— (4) At the airport having annual passenger throughput of ten million passengers per annum or above, the airport operator shall ensure that there will be three ground handling agencies including that of,— (a) the airport operator or its joint venture or its hundred percent owned subsidiary, provided that this mode is used only when the airport operator has invited bids as under clause (c) and no bidder is found suitable or selected; (b) subject to sub-regulations (8) and (8A), a subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking. In case there is no subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking, a ground handling agency shall be selected through a bidding process as under clause (c); and (c) any other ground handling agency appointed by the airport operator through a transparent bidding process; (iii) for sub-regulation (5), the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:— (5) At the airport having annual passenger throughput of less than ten million passengers per annum, based on the traffic output and airside and terminal building capacity, the airport operator may decide on the number of ground handling agencies, not exceeding three, including that of,— (a) the airport operator or its joint venture or its hundred percent owned subsidiary, provided that this is used only when the airport operator has invited bids as under clause (c) and no bidder is found suitable or selected; (b) subject to sub-regulations (8) and (8A), a subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking. In case there is no subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking, a ground handling agency shall be selected through a bidding process as under clause (c); and (c) any other ground handling agency appointed by the airport operator through a transparent bidding process; (iv) for sub-regulation (7), the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:— (7) Subject to sub-regulations (8) and (8A), at all airports, the subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking shall match the lowest royalty or revenue share, as applicable, paid by the other ground handling agency at such airport; (v) for sub-regulation (8), the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:— (8) The provisions of sub-regulations (4), (5) and (7) relating to subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking shall: (i) continue to apply so long as such ground handling agency remains a subsidiary or joint venture of a public sector undertaking; (ii) continue to apply to such ground handling agency at all such airports where it is operating as a ground handling agency, from the date such ground handling agency ceases to be a subsidiary or a joint venture of a public sector undertaking till the earlier of: (a) eighty four months, or (b) change in more than fifty percent shareholding of such ground handling agency save and except where such change in shareholding is after the expiry of the lock-in period agreed to at the time of acquisition of such ground handling agency by a private sector entity; (iii) continue to be applicable to a successor entity, being a special purpose vehicle, which acquires the ground handling agency at a civil enclave subject to: (a) compliance with sub-regulation (6), and (b) there being no change in more than fifty percent shareholding of such successor entity for the period of eighty-four months from the date of its acquisition, save and except where such change in shareholding is after the expiry of the lock-in period agreed to at the time of acquisition of such ground handling agency by a private sector entity; (vi) after sub-regulation (8), the following shall be inserted, namely:—[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5 “(8A) No ground handling agency or any person(s) controlling such ground handling agency shall have significant influence in any other ground handling agency operating on the same airport. In case a ground handling agency or the person(s) controlling the ground handling agency has significant influence in another ground handling agency operating on the same airport or acquires significant influence in another ground handling agency operating on the same airport pursuant to an acquisition from a public sector enterprise:— (a) the two ground agencies operating at the same airport shall be deemed to be a single ground handling agency at the relevant airport; (b) airport operator for such airport shall promptly appoint another ground handling agency through a transparent bidding process; and (c) (A) within twenty four months of such acquisition, such ground handling agency/person(s) controlling the ground handling agency shall reorganize or restructure the business of the ground handling agencies to ensure that on completion of such twenty four month period, only one of the two ground agencies operates at the relevant airport; or (B) on expiry of twenty four months of such acquisition, of the two ground handling agencies, the ground handling agency with the shorter outstanding concession period, shall be deemed to have surrendered its concession at the relevant airport. Explanation:—For the purposes of this sub-regulation, the terms “significant influence” and “control” shall have the meanings as respectively assigned to them in the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); SANJEEV KUMAR, Chairman [ADVT.-III/4/Exty./37/2023-24] Note:— The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, dated the 30th October, 2018, vide notification number F.No. AAI/OPS/707/GHR-2018, dated the 26th October, 2018 and last amended vide F. No. AAI/OPS/707/GHR dated the 6th March, 2020 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, Sub-section (i), dated the 6th March, 2020. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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