Airport ground handling companies will no longer need licences if parliament passes changes to the Civil Aviation Act. The foreign policy committee backed the changes at first reading. Thirteen MPs voted in favour, one abstained and none voted against.

Three weeks ago, the government press office announced that the cabinet had approved the bill and sent it to parliament.

The background: Government wants to scrap licences for airport ground handling firms

Instead of a licence, ground handling firms will file a declaration, as EU law requires. The bill also sets minimum quality standards for airports and ground handling.

Rules on air traffic management and on oversight of air navigation services will be brought in line with the Single European Sky requirements.

The bill also changes aviation security. It provides for checks on staff and for security programmes for certain categories of people.

Because of the switch to the euro, the upper limit for some fines and financial penalties will roughly double.

Anelia Marinova, chief director of the Civil Aviation Administration Directorate General at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, presented the bill to MPs. She said it would bring national rules into line with the new European requirements, give the state better tools for oversight and improve conditions for civil aviation activities.