The Competition Commission (CC) has ruled that BAA (as reported earlier by Cheapflights) must sell three of its UK airports, ending its monopoly of aviation centres in London and Scotland.
London Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport and either Glasgow Airport or Edinburgh Airport will have to be sold by the Spanish-owned operator, following the regulator’s publication of its final market inquiry.
Given a timetable of three years to complete the sales of all three locations, BAA’s portfolio will be reduced to Southampton Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Aberdeen Airport and either of the Scottish airports after this period.
Christopher Clarke, chairman of the BAA Airports inquiry, expressed optimism that this decision would bring benefits for travellers and airlines.
He said: “Such action can take a number of forms, including lower prices, improved levels of service and more efficient investment in response to customers’ needs. This news was welcomed by many in the industry, including a number of airlines and consumer groups.
Jim Callaghan, Ryanair’s director of legal and regulatory affairs, believes that BAA’s monopoly damaged passengers’ experiences.
