New UK Bill puts passengers first

New airport legislation promising to put passengers’ needs first has been published by the British government.

The draft Civil Aviation Bill will replace the current economic regulation duties of the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, with a single primary duty to promote the interests of passengers. The CAA will be given more flexibility to set performance measures at major airports, encourage investment in improvements and provide passengers and other airport users with more information about airline and airport performance.

The CAA will also be given powers to impose a range of penalties for breaching licence conditions – with fines of up to 10 per cent of an airport’s annual turnover. The draft Bill will involve the transfer of certain aviation security functions, such as monitoring and enforcement, from central government to the CAA which charges the industry for its activities.

However, the responsibility for setting aviation security policy and making aviation security directions to the industry will remain with the Transport Secretary.

The government had originally announced its intention to introduce this Bill in the next session of Parliament. But an opportunity has arisen to introduce it earlier – most likely early next year.

CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said: “The draft Bill will ensure passengers are at the heart of the CAA’s economic regulation of major airports.

“The proposed legislation gives us a modern and flexible tool kit that will enhance our ability to ensure the passenger experience improves.”