Latin America urged to streamline aviation industry regulation

Latin America's aviation industry needs governments to streamline airport and airline regulations in order to reap the social and economic benefits the sector can bring, industry expert Filipe Reis told BNamericas.

"To build proper infrastructure and for the industry to truly flourish, governments first need to work on aligning local regulations and tax policies with international standards," said Reis who is the regional director for airports, passenger, cargo and security at the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This means working together with airport operators, airlines, and others in the industry, he added.

One country currently facing a number of regulatory uncertainties regarding infrastructure concessions is Brazil. In the face of the Lava Jato corruption probe and impeachment proceedings, heads of government agencies and departments have been changing in the past few months.

However, with the senate set to vote on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff this Wednesday, greater clarity about who will head government entities such as civil aviation department SAC and civil aviation agency ANAC should emerge shortly.

The concessions fall under phase 2 of the federal government's 198bn-real logistics investment program known as PIL, which also includes highways, railways and ports.