Airport operator BAA has responded to a select committee report calling for the break-up of its operations.

Published by the House of Commons transport committee, the report suggested that allowing the company to retain collective ownership of some of the UK's biggest airports could negatively affect service for passengers.

It expressed concerns over BAA needing "chivvying along" by the regulator, something that the committee said is a poor reflection on the company's commitment to quality of service.

However, BAA said that any break-up of its operations would only serve to hinder investment and capacity expansion, rather than help it.

"No other airport operator in this country has demonstrated willingness to deliver that capacity and, in fact, proposed investments at non-BAA airports have either been postponed or cancelled completely," the firm commented in a statement.

However, the select committee concluded that "there is much to be gained" from a market where BAA does not dominate to the same extent that it does today.

The report came shortly after the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport was opened by the Queen last week.

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