About the Conference

The new trends emerging in the aviation industry in a global scenario are the increased
globalization of economies, liberalization of aviation policies, new technological developments
in civil aviation, privatization of airlines and airports and liberal and open skies bilateral
agreements. Deregulation and intensified global competition are forcing airlines to become
responsive, competitive and efficient by focusing more closely on their customers and
operations.

Over the past few years in India, the attitude of the Government and Aviation Industry towards
the regulation of Air transport has undergone a profound change in almost all spheres. New
concepts of ownership, financing, management and operation of air transport are the emerging
trends in India. Airport owners and operators who realize this situation are trying to improve
their facilities and services to attract major airlines. Therefore, airport owners and operators are
devising the privatization of airports to solve the problem. 

The objectives of airport privatization can be summed up as follows: economic efficiency,

private finance, and aggressive marketing. The researchers through this Conference will help to
examine the prospects and challenges faced by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) in the era of
dynamic growth of aviation through the following issues which will be highlighted in this
conference:

 What are the challenges faced by the AAI after the privatization of airports and aviation
related infrastructure.
 How does the organization resolve the dichotomy between operating in a competitive
market and the massive social responsibility that it fulfills?
 Should the organization retain certain key functions like airspace management in greater
national security interest and whether this would affect its operability in the new
competitive framework?
 What have been the experiences of similar organizations undergoing a similar transition
from operating in state guaranteed monopoly model to a free market regime?

CALL FOR PAPERS

We take the opportunity to announce a two day conference on Liberalization and Privatization
of Airlines & Airports in India: Emerging Legal Issues –to be organized by NALSAR
University of Law on April 12 and 13, 2008. This national conference is a part of the
University’s efforts to generate wider debate on contemporary legal issues related to civil
aviation and provides a platform for researchers and professionals in this field to interact with
students interested in further research in Air law.
Several leading academicians, prominent industry professionals, experts, regulators, government
officials, students and other stakeholders are expected to attend the conference on an invitational
basis. 
VENUE: R.N. Jhunjunwala Conference Hall, NALSAR University Campus, Hyderabad
DATES: April 12 and 13, 2008
We will be glad to receive your participation. In order to take part in the Conference we request
you to send your abstractby April 3, 2008. The abstracts should be of approximately 300 words
sent to us by e-mail to the contacts listed below.
The abstract should be preferably on the below mentioned themes. Also the participants are
given the liberty to present on any other area related to the themes. For clarifications of any sort
please feel free to contact us personally or send an e-mail to the addresses mentioned below and
we would try and get back to you at the earliest.

CONFERENCE THEMES

THEMES

Some of the suggested themes for the conference are, the presenters can make a theoretical paper
or a case study related to any of the following themes:

Theme I: Legal Issues Relating to

Liberalization and Privatization of Airlines
1. Comprehensive and Futuristic Civil Aviation Policy in India :The Need of the hour
2. Mergers and Acquisitions: Do we need a Single Window Mechanism?
3. Joint Ventures in Civil Aviation Sector: : Emerging Legal Issues
4. Leasing and Financing of Aircraft: A Critical Analysis
5. Project Finance in Airlines Industry: Is it a new method of mobilizing resources?
6. New Trends in Aircraft Insurance: An Overview
7. Environment and Aviation: Issues and Challenges
8. Safety & Security in Aviation: A Cause for Great Concern
9. Air Craft Hijacking: An Analysis of New Legal issues
10. Cargo Aircraft: Perspective and Insight
11. The Survival of Low- Cost Airlines in India: Do we need new strategy? 
12. Fractional Ownership Indian Scenario: A jurisprudential Analysis
13. Competition Law Policy Issues in Civil Aviation
14. Foreign Direct Investment and Changing Dimensions of Ownership Issues
15. Emerging Issues in Code- Sharing Arrangements
16. Consumer Protection in Civil Aviation: Recent Case Laws
17. Indian Judiciary and Civil Aviation: An analysis of various cases
18. Shortage of Pilots in India: What Steps We Need?
19. IPR Issues Relating to Patents, Trademarks and Designs in Aircraft
20. Air Carrier’s liability under the New Montreal Regime.
21. In flight Services, Crew Safety: Issues and Concern.
22. Growing Trends in Air Cargo Business: Legal Issues
23. Taxation of civil aviation; emerging issues
24. Scope and Role  of Aviation Consultancies/ Law Firms in India
Theme II: Legal Issues Relating to
Privatization of Airports
1. Legal Issues Involved In Joint Ventures of Airport Infrastructure Developments
2. Project Finance in Airports Development: Issues and Concerns
3. Cost related issues in Airport and Air Navigation
4. Public Private Participation in Airports Development: Issues and Concerns
5. Hub and Spoke Model in Indian scenario
6. Slot Allocation
7. Airports Safety & Security: Issues and Challenges in India
8. Privatization of Delhi and Mumbai Airports: Emerging Legal Issues
9. Hyderabad and Bangalore Greenfield Airports: A legal Analysis
10. Issues and Trends in Airport Bidding; A need for separate regulatory regime
11. Key features of Construction and Engineering contract in airports 
12. Land Acquisition and Allied issues in Airport Construction
13. Necessity of Low cost Airports in India
14. Proposed Airport Economic Regulatory Authority - review of Investor Concerns and
Consumer Rights.
15. Aero-Contractual Claims - Choosing, Articulating and presenting them (special emphasis
on ADR mechanisms)
16. Need for Due-Diligence ‘know-how’ in Aviation Investment.
17. Re-Fueling Infrastructure – ownership and investment issues.
18. Debate on Current Union Budget—Issues and Concerns
19. Airport based SEZs: Issues and Concerns
20. Labour Issues Concerning the Privatization of Airports in India.

PARTICIPANTS
Several leading academicians, prominent industry professionals, experts, regulators, government
officials, students and other stakeholders from different parts of the India are expected to attend
the conference on an invitational basis. The keynote speakers for the conference shall be the
leading authorities on air law.

CONFERENCE STRUCTURE
The first session of the conference shall focus on issues and concerns related to liberalization and
privatization of airline industry while on the second session focus will be on issues pertinent to
airport privatization. Each session will have two interactive sessions consisting of keynote
addresses, paper presentations and discussions. Each session will explore a particular theme on
airline and airport liberalization and privatization and the issues connected to it.
CONFERENCE VENUE
The venue of the conference will be the R.N. Jhunjunwala Conference Hall, NALSAR,
University of Law, Hyderabad (Justice City Campus, Shameerpet). The air-conditioned
conference hall is equipped with multimedia projection capabilities and can accommodate up to
200 delegates.  If required there are several other well-equipped venues for conducting parallel
sessions within the campus.