British Airways welcomes airport report

British Airways has welcomed a recent outline of the issues to be considered by the Competition Commission when investigating customer service at UK airports.

The statement from the Competition Commission has shown that the body intends to look at whether there is a lack of competition between airports, primarily looking at BAA's hub ownership, and whether this is affecting the passenger experience.

British Airways said that it sees separate ownership of Stansted and Heathrow airports as "key" to these issues, as such as a move would ultimately benefit flyers.

"A more competitive London airports market would encourage the building of new facilities which would benefit both customers and the UK," said chief executive Willie Walsh.

"The damaging consequences of common ownership are all too apparent today in the fragility of Heathrow's day-to-day operation."

Christopher Clarke, inquiry group chairman and Competition Commission deputy chairman, stated that the body was "well aware" of the main problems faced by passengers using BAA-owned airports, including security delays, overcrowding and a lack of escalators and similar facilities.

Yesterday, the Office of Fair Trading confirmed that it had taken action against 13 airlines which had not made total airfare costs absolutely clear to passengers by displaying all fixed, non-optional costs, including taxes, in the prices shown on their websites.

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