Ryanair calls for BAA sale of Stansted Airport

Ryanair is saying that BAA should sell Stansted Airport in addition to Gatwick, as it doesn’t see the sale of the one as sufficient to fulfil the Competition Commission’s recommendations that were made in its recent report, according to recent reports.

The watchdog group’s investigation led to the recommendation that BAA’s ownership of several UK airports be broken up, and Ryanair insists that to improve competition Stansted Airport should also be sold, along with either Edinburgh or Glasgow, in Scotland.

The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary noted: “Airlines and passengers have been abused for many years with high prices and abysmal service at all of the BAA’s London and Scottish airports and the ‘trick’ of selling off Gatwick won’t end this abusive monopoly.”

The Association of British Travel Agencies (ABTA) has said that services for passengers at Gatwick Airport should be improved by the sale of the airport to a new operator.

ABTA chief executive, Mark Tanzer, commented: “Any new owner for Gatwick must be subject to proper ongoing regulation to ensure that they provide the level of investment and performance that a modern international airport requires.”

BAA recent announcement indicated that it would auction off Gatwick Airport, but did not reveal any plans concerning Stansted.

www.ryanair.com