BAA officially ordered to sell three airports

The Competition Commission (CC) has confirmed that it is ordering BAA to break up its monopoly of the UK aviation network by selling three of its seven hubs - Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport as well as either Edinburgh Airport or Glasgow Airport.

All three bases will have to be sold within the next two years, starting with Gatwick which has already entered into the sales process with potential bidders.

According to the CC, the enforced break-up is the only way to ensure that passengers and airlines are no longer disadvantaged by BAA's monopoly over the airport network in Scotland and south-east England.

Christopher Clarke, chairman of the airports inquiry, said: "We are confident that the sale of these airports will bring substantial benefits to passengers and airlines.

"We expect that the new airport owners, with the operating capabilities and financial resources to develop them as effective competitors, will have a much greater incentive than BAA to be more responsive to their customers."

EasyJet was quick to welcome the announcement but stressed that the government now has a responsibility to ensure that airlines and passengers are not let down as they have been in the past.

Posted by Teddie, 19 March 2009 14:38

News tags

• Edinburgh
• London