India Weekly: Aviation bill a relief to lessors

Aircraft lessors worldwide breathed a sigh of relief this week as India’s aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, assured Parliament that lessors’ rights—much like homeowners’ rights—take precedence over those of bankrupt tenants. This declaration paved the way for approving a bill that firmly upholds these rights.

The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, aims to fully implement the Cape Town Convention, which India signed over 15 years ago, in both letter and spirit. The bill swiftly cleared the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) following the minister’s speech and a brief debate. While supporting the bill, opposition members voiced concerns about soaring airfares—even they, one noted, struggle to afford flights home after a week in Parliament.