Parliament Passes Aircraft (Amendment) Bill To Raise Maximum Cap On Fines From 10L To 1Cr

The Parliament passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to bring the Aircraft Act, 1934 in line with the internationally accepted standards, procedures and practices as laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on March 17, 2020 during this year’s budget session.
As per the Statement of Objects and Reasons annexed to it, the 2012 and 2105 audits conducted by the ICAO indicated a need to amend the Aircraft Act:
• to give proper recognition to the regulators under the Act;
• to empower the departmental officers; and
• to enhance the maximum quantum of fines.
It is in this backdrop, Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said, that the amendments were being proposed. He further said that the Bill was necessitated keeping in view the rising number of air passengers and cargo traffic across airports.