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COMPETITION chiefs have recommended that BAA lose control of one of Scotland’s busiest airports.
The Competition Commission said in a report that there were problems at each of BAA’s seven UK airports which were impacting on passengers and airlines.
The recommendations claimed that Spanish-owned BAA should cease control of Edinburgh or Glasgow airport as well as two of its three London airports.
But today BAA Scotland described the CC’s evidence as “flawed” saying it was disappointed with the findings.
The CC will now consult to see which airports need to be sold.
However, major airline companies had conflicting responses to the announcment.
Budget airline company Ryanair welcomed the findings of the report.
Jim Callaghan, director of legal and regulatory affairs said: “BAA’s monopoly control over the London airports has been highly detrimental to competition and consumers.
“BAA has long ignored the needs of its airline users and the travelling public and provided inefficient, gold plated facilities, encouraged by an ineffectual regulator, the CAA”.
And while Easyjet bosses also welcomed the report, they claimed that BAA break-up would only be the ‘bronze medal’ for change and that gold would be better regulation.
Andy Harrison, easyJet chief xxecutive said: “Today’s Competition Commission report is what we have been waiting for, an honest and unbiased assessment of our airports.
“They have said what everyone knows, that our airports aren’t working, and that BAA and regulation aren’t working.
“But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that the break-up of BAA will automatically result in a better deal for the travelling public.
“Simply selling a monopoly airport from one greedy, highly indebted capitalist to another will benefit no-one part from the dealmakers in the City.
“Gatwick will be sold to the highest bidder, who will probably be highly indebted, like Ferrovial, and, like Ferrovial, will be expecting UK consumers to pick up the bill.”
