Airport and Infrastructure Expertise: Our Specialized Practice
The Chambers of Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has developed exceptional expertise in the specialized field of airport and infrastructure regulation, representing major international airport operators before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and other forums. Our practice demonstrates unparalleled capability in handling complex regulatory and economic issues affecting airport operations across India.
Expertise in Airport and Infrastructure Regulation
The Chambers of Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has developed a leading practice in airport and infrastructure regulation, representing some of the country’s most prominent airport operators. We regularly appear before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the Supreme Court, advising on tariff determination, capital expenditure recognition, and complex financial issues. With experience spanning major metro airports to newly privatized regional hubs, we bring both strategic insight and a deep understanding of the sector’s evolving regulatory framework.
Challenging Tariff Determinations
A core part of our work involves contesting tariff orders issued by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). We have successfully represented international airport operators in Mumbai and Bangalore in appeals concerning multiple control periods, raising critical regulatory and economic issues. Our team has also guided newly privatized airports through their first control-period disputes, helping them navigate the unique financial and operational challenges of transitioning from public to private management.
Capital Expenditure and Financial Computation
Capital expenditure recognition and the calculation of development fees are pivotal to airport economics. We have argued for inclusion of actual capital costs—such as terminal expansions and runway upgrades—in the regulatory asset base rather than accepting arbitrary caps. The Chambers of Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has also contested AERA’s capping of interest rates when computing development fees, insisting on recognition of contractual interest rates, and handled appeals involving the Hypothetical Regulatory Asset Base (HRAB), a key factor in tariff setting.
Independent Service Providers and Stakeholder Relations
Our practice extends to the nuanced relationships between airports and independent service providers (ISPs). In a significant Bangalore matter, we defended an international airport operator against an airline’s challenge to AERA’s order on pass-through expenditure caps linked to ISP royalty and revenue share. These cases highlight our ability to address the intersecting interests of airports, airlines, and third-party service providers within the regulatory ecosystem.
Regional Reach and Distinguished Clients
Beyond metropolitan hubs, we represent airport operators across tier-2 cities including Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, and Guwahati, addressing region-specific regulatory hurdles and tariff disputes. Our clientele includes major international operators, newly privatized airports, and airport authorities facing challenges from airlines and other stakeholders. This breadth of experience positions our chambers at the forefront of airport and infrastructure regulation, delivering solutions tailored to both national and regional regulatory landscapes.
Through our extensive experience and successful representation in these specialized infrastructure regulatory matters, our chambers have established itself as the premier practice for airport operators navigating the complex landscape of economic regulation in the Indian aviation sector.
Expertise in Airport and Infrastructure Regulation
The Chambers of Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has developed a leading practice in airport and infrastructure regulation, representing some of the country’s most prominent airport operators. We regularly appear before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the Supreme Court, advising on tariff determination, capital expenditure recognition, and complex financial issues. With experience spanning major metro airports to newly privatized regional hubs, we bring both strategic insight and a deep understanding of the sector’s evolving regulatory framework.
Challenging Tariff Determinations
A core part of our work involves contesting tariff orders issued by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). We have successfully represented international airport operators in Mumbai and Bangalore in appeals concerning multiple control periods, raising critical regulatory and economic issues. Our team has also guided newly privatized airports through their first control-period disputes, helping them navigate the unique financial and operational challenges of transitioning from public to private management.
Capital Expenditure and Financial Computation
Capital expenditure recognition and the calculation of development fees are pivotal to airport economics. We have argued for inclusion of actual capital costs—such as terminal expansions and runway upgrades—in the regulatory asset base rather than accepting arbitrary caps. The Chambers of Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has also contested AERA’s capping of interest rates when computing development fees, insisting on recognition of contractual interest rates, and handled appeals involving the Hypothetical Regulatory Asset Base (HRAB), a key factor in tariff setting.
Independent Service Providers and Stakeholder Relations
Our practice extends to the nuanced relationships between airports and independent service providers (ISPs). In a significant Bangalore matter, we defended an international airport operator against an airline’s challenge to AERA’s order on pass-through expenditure caps linked to ISP royalty and revenue share. These cases highlight our ability to address the intersecting interests of airports, airlines, and third-party service providers within the regulatory ecosystem.
Regional Reach and Distinguished Clients
Beyond metropolitan hubs, we represent airport operators across tier-2 cities including Mangaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, and Guwahati, addressing region-specific regulatory hurdles and tariff disputes. Our clientele includes major international operators, newly privatized airports, and airport authorities facing challenges from airlines and other stakeholders. This breadth of experience positions our chambers at the forefront of airport and infrastructure regulation, delivering solutions tailored to both national and regional regulatory landscapes.
Through our extensive experience and successful representation in these specialized infrastructure regulatory matters, our chambers have established itself as the premier practice for airport operators navigating the complex landscape of economic regulation in the Indian aviation sector.