Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is a statutory body constituted under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008, (27 of 2008) which regulates tariff and other charges for the aeronautical services rendered at the airports and to monitor performance standards.

AERA’s recent Tariff Order faced various appeals before the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT) now merged with Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), including appeals filed by Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL), being the Operator of IGI Airport, Delhi, Lufthansa German Airlines and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The appeals involved diligent legal advisory in terms of complex issues related to inter-alia, regarding the process followed by AERA and the reasons for determination of tariffs were under challenge, which have mostly been rejected by TDSAT, upholding the process and decisions of AERA. The firm advised and appeared for AERA in all the said appeals, which were disposed of by common judgment by TDSAT which upheld the Tariff Order passed by AERA. The judgment is significant in many aspects as it is the first determination of a tariff by the AERA for an airport run by a private operator.