23/04/2008 06:00:00
UK airport congestion may be alleviated if BAA is forced to sell three airports by the Competition Commission.
According to the Times, the Commission indicted that poor passenger service from the Spanish-owned company is behind the decision to break-up BAA's airport and monopolies in London and Scotland.
By diversifying ownership of the three main London airports, the Commission hopes that a greater effort will be made by owners to implement measures to relieve overcrowding. A spokesman stated:
"Separate ownership would itself create a greater incentive to expand capacity."
In August they will publish recommendations to sell either Gatwick or Stansted (or even both) as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow and possibly Southampton. BAA is expected to act before the Commission's recommendations are published and may even sell Gatwick within months.
It is widely anticipated that a new owner would revive plans for a second Gatwick runway. Possible locations for an additional runway, south of the existing one, were published by the Department of Transport in 2003 and could potentially double the number of flights to 486,000 a year. While an agreement to hold off on a new runway until 2019 was signed between BAA and West Sussex County Council in 1979, Parliament has the power to overturn it.
The Government is keen to avoid disruptions to plans for a sixth terminal and third runway at Heathrow and an expansion at Stansted. A review of the countries airport regulations was announced by Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, yesterday.
Speaking to The Times, Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Secretary, said:
"BAA's monopolistic grip on so many of the UK's major airports has not been serving passengers or airlines well. The case for breaking up BAA gets stronger by the day."