The Regulatory Policy Group is a new unit that includes work previously organised as the Economic Regulation Group.  RPG's remit is to provide policy advice to colleagues across the CAA, aiming to help the organisation to put the consumer at the heart of its work.

The new Regulatory Policy Group has four core functions:

• economic regulation of the three designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) and NATS;
• enforcement of consumer legislation - for example, to protect consumers in instances of flight cancellation and denied boarding, and protect people of reduced mobility when they fly;
• providing expert policy and economic advice and analysis across CAA, to government and others on airports, airlines and air traffic services; and
• collecting and analysing aviation statistics and survey responses.

The changes are designed to help the CAA to take a holistic approach to our regulatory aims and ensure that all potential regulatory options and tools are considered when deciding the ideal course of action to achieve best outcomes, across the organisation's work.  The changes also underline the Group's role in providing analytical and policy support across the CAA's mission - for example, on environmental issues.

On 21 May 2012, the CAA published an update on policy for its review of the price controls on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports

On 12 March 2012, the CAA published its decision on an investigation into a complaint by bmi and Aer Lingus about the structure of airport charges levied by Heathrow Airport.

On 18 January 2012, the CAA published its decision on the setting up of the CAA Consumer Panel, in addition to an Information Pack to support the recruitment of a Chair for the Panel.

On 23 November, the CAA published an indicative Airport Licence to help support the passage of the draft Civil Aviation Bill during Parliament. Also published were: covering letter, discussion document (slide pack), May 2010 advice to DfT, request from DfT under section 16 of Civil Aviation Act 1982.

RPG has responsibility for overseeing airport-led implementation of the main recommendations of the South-East Airports Taskforce on improving airport resilience, through the establishment of the Airport Performance Facilitation Group (APFG). There is more information on the Group here.