The Airports Act 1986 (c. 31) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act reformed civil aviation in Great Britain and privatised the British Airports Authority from a public department into BAA as a private company. It also granted additional regulatory powers to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Provisions

The British Airports Authority was established in 1965 by the Airports Authority Act 1965 to take management of the UK's larger airports into public ownership under a government authority. The Airports Act 1986 transferred the powers relating to running government owned airports from the British Airports Authority from the public sector to the private sector as part of a Conservative Party government policy of privatisation. BAA plc. was created as a result of the act to take over the authority's responsibilities. The act also granted statutory authority to the CAA to continue to regulate civil aviation in the United Kingdom as well as BAA. At the time of passage, BAA became responsible for London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Glasgow International Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Aberdeen Airport. The act only applied to Great Britain and does not apply to Northern Ireland.

The act also included a number of miscellaneous provisions that were eventually mirrored in airport byelaws. This had the effect of making breaches of airport byelaws punishable under criminal law. An example of this was in 2016 where two people were arrested and charged for being "drunk or under the influence of drugs or other intoxicating substances" in "a restricted area of the airport" contrary to Sections 63 and 63.1 of the Airports Act.

Repealed enactments Section 83(5) of the act repealed 29 enactments, listed in parts I and II of schedule 6 to the act.

+Part I – Repeals coming into force on the appointed dayCitationShort titleExtent of repeal1966 c. 34Industrial Development Act 1966In Schedule 2, the entry relating to the British Airports Authority.1971 c. 78Town and Country Planning Act 1971In section 224(1)(c), the words "the British Airports Authority or ".1972 c. 52Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972In section 213(1)(c), the words "the British Airports Authority or ".1975 c. 24House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975In Part II of Schedule 1, the entry relating to the British Airports Authority.1975 c. 78Airports Authority Act 1975The whole act.1976 c. 57Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976In section 15(3), the words "the British Airports Authority,".1976 c. 70Land Drainage Act 1976In section 112(2), the words "the British Airports Authority,".1976 c. 75Development of Rural Wales Act 1976In section 34(1), in the definition of "statutory undertakers", the words "the British Airports Authority,".1978 c. 3Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978Section 12(1). Schedule 1.1978 c. 8Civil Aviation Act 1978Section 8. In Schedule 1, paragraph 7.1979 c. 46Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979In section 61(2)(b), the words "the British Airports Authority,".1980 c. 60Civil Aviation Act 1980Sections 24 and 25.1980 c. 65Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980In section 108(1)(b), the words "the British Airports Authority,". In section 120(3), in the definition of "statutory undertakers", the words "the British Airports Authority,". In section 170(1)(b), the words "the British Airports Authority,". In Schedule 16, paragraph 10.1981 c. 64New Towns Act 1981In section 78(1)(c), the words "the British Airports Authority or". In section 79(1)(b), the words "or the British Airports". In Schedule 12, paragraph 19.1981 c. 67Acquisition of Land Act 1981In section 8, in subsection (1)(b), the words "the British Airports Authority or", and subsection (2). In section 32(8), the words from "section 17(1)" to the end. In Schedule 4, paragraph 25.1982 c. 1Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 1982Section 1.1982 c. 16Civil Aviation Act 1982Section 34(2). In section 35(1), the words "is managed by a person other than the BAA and". In section 88(10), the words ", the BAA". In section 105(1), the definition of the BAA. In Schedule 15, paragraph 17.1982 c. 36Aviation Security Act 1982Section 27(7). Section 29(2)(b). Section 30(3)(b). In section 38(1), in the definition of "manager", the words "the British Airports Authority,".1982 c. 48Criminal Justice Act 1982Section 44. In section 81(3), the words "section 44".1983 c. 44National Audit Act 1983In Part I of Schedule 4, the entry relating to the British Airports Authority.1984 c. 12Telecommunications Act 1984In Schedule 4, paragraph 64.1984 c. 22Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984In section 14(1), the words "or the British Airports Authority".1984 c. 27Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984In section 43(1), the words "and no such regulations" onwards. In Schedule 13, paragraph 33.1984 c. 55Building Act 1984In section 4(1)(b) the words ", the British Airports Authority", in sub-paragraph (i) the words "or in the case of the British Airports Authority a house or a hotel,", and in sub-paragraph (ii) the words "the British Airports Authority or" and "in question". In section 59(4), the words ", the British Airports Authority", in paragraph (a) the words "or in the case of the British Airports Authority a house or a hotel,", and in paragraph (b) the words "the British Airports Authority or" and "in question".1985 c. 71Housing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985In Schedule 2, paragraph 29.

+Part II – Repeals coming into force on a date appointed under section 85(5)CitationShort titleExtent of repeal1973 c. 41Fair Trading Act 1973In Part II of Schedule 7, paragraph 13.1980 c. 65Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980Section 72(4)(iii).1982 c. 16Civil Aviation Act 1982Section 27. Section 29. Sections 32 and 33. Section 37. In section 38(2), the words "Without prejudice to section 60(3)(f)),". Section 40. Section 58. Section 60(3)(o). Section 61(6). Section 99(5)(a). Schedule 5. In Part II of Schedule 13, the entries relating to sections 32(5), 33(1), 37, 40(2) and 61(6) of the 1982 Act. In Schedule 14, paragraph 5(1).1982 c. 48Criminal Justice Act 1982Section 45. In section 81(5), the words "section 45".

Notes

References

External links