23/11/2011

Aviation Authority Wings' Clipped

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is to have it financial regulation role removed, and charged with the single duty of promoting the interests of passengers, it has been announced on Wednesday.

According to the Government, 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 - such as those sending cargo by air - with more information about airline and airport performance.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: ""By and large passengers give good feedback about airports, but they also say they want things like more seating, better information and additional baggage carousels at busy times - these are exactly the matters that the CAA will be able to address more effectively under its new powers.

"This Bill couples our commitment to make our airports better rather than bigger with the Government's wider agenda on better regulation. It also complements our ongoing work to produce a sustainable policy framework for aviation, a draft of which will be published next spring."

According to the Government, the draft Bill is designed to modernise elements of how the industry is regulated and contribute to economic growth. It also extends to aviation security, the 'user pays' principle, which exists elsewhere in the sector.

The government said the move would save UK taxpayers over £4m a year.

Other measures included in the draft Bill include giving the CAA a role in promoting better public information on customer service and environmental impacts and powers to impose a range of penalties for breaching licence conditions.

(DW)

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