CALL FOR BREAK UP
Ryanair Holdings PLC
09 August 2007
RYANAIR SUPPORTS UK COMPETITION COMMISSION INVESTIGATION OF BAA
AND CALLS FOR URGENT BREAK UP OF THE BAA MONOPOLY
Ryanair, Britain's largest passenger airline, today ( Thursday, 9th August 2007)
welcomed the UK Competition Commission's Issues Statement on their investigation
of the BAA airports monopoly. The CC rightly identifies as serious issues the
following:
O The abysmal delays being experienced by passengers going through security and
immigration at BAA airports
O The effects of common ownership on the development cost and operation of the
London Airports , and
O The impact of the regulatory regime on airport development.
Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs and Company Secretary, Jim Callaghan, said:
'The Competition Commission has now identified the various issues where the
ongoing common ownership by the BAA of the main London airports is damaging the
development and operation of these airports and is damaging to the travelling
public. The BAA needs to be broken up urgently in the best interests of British
consumers, visitors to the UK and airline users.
'The situation has now reached crisis levels. BAA have doubled passenger charges
in Stansted airport and passenger numbers have fallen for the first time since
Ryanair began operating to Stansted in 1991. As a result, routes have been
cancelled and frequencies reduced. Passenger queues at security and immigration
have also reached crisis levels with passengers being forced to wait in excess
of one hour. BAA also continue to waste money and ignore the needs of users by
building inefficient, gold plated airport facilities at Stansted Airport, which
will lead to another doubling of passenger charges and a further reduction in
passenger numbers and routes from London.
'We are therefore calling on the Competition Commission to expedite its
investigation of the BAA and to force a break up of this abusive monopoly as
soon as possible in the interest of consumers. It is clear that the situation
will continue to deteriorate until competition is introduced in the London
airports market.'
Ends . Thursday, 9th August 2007
For reference:
Lorna Farren - Ryanair
Tel: +353-1-8121271
Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants Limited
Tel: +353-1-4980300
This information is provided by RNS
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