Ryanair Condemns Baa Monopoly’s Latest (7th) Appeal

May 29, 2012 flight2000it

Ryanair today (28 May) condemned the BAA airport monopoly’s latest (7th) appeal against the 2008 Competition Commission recommendation that it should sell London Stansted, as the BAA’s monopoly of London’s big 3 airports ‘adversely affected competition’. This 7th appeal, by the BAA, will further delay the sale of Stansted, proving yet again that the BAA has no regard for passengers, competition or tourism as it attempts to retain its stranglehold over London traffic.

Traffic figures for 2012 show that Stansted is now its fifth consecutive year of traffic declines with traffic down 25% from 24m passenger in 2007 to below 18m passengers in 2011, returning Stansted to pre-2003 traffic levels, while the BAA doubled fees at Stansted.

The Competition Commission’s report into the BAA found that the:

a) BAA’s ownership of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted “adversely affected competition”.
b) The way the BAA monopoly conducted its business “adversely affected competition”.
c) The CAA’s “inadequate regulatory regime” had “adversely affected competition”.

Ryanair today renewed its call for the early sale of Stansted so that competition can deliver lower costs and better customer service which are the only ways to reverse the traffic collapse which Stansted has suffered under the BAA’s mismanagement in recent years.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said;

“The BAA’s seventh appeal against the Competition Commission’s ruling that it should sell London Stansted, in the interest of competition, is designed to maximise the proceeds they can achieve for the sale of Stansted, which even the BAA accepts will inevitably be sold.

“Traffic at Stansted Airport has declined from a high of 24m passengers in 2007 to just 18m passengers last year, thanks to the BAA’s high and rising prices, and the ineffective regulatory regime run by the CAA.

“Ryanair looks forward to a swift resolution of this appeal by the Court of Appeal so that the disposal of Stansted can proceed, which will allow competition to transform airport costs and customer service and lower air fares to deliver growth in tourism, traffic and jobs once again at Stansted Airport.”

Source: Ryanair