BAA may be forced to sell off one of its key airports

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The airport operator - which runs Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - has been accused of presiding over abysmal delays and poor service.

Scroll down for more

Chaos: The sale of Gatwick could help to prevent scenes like this at London airports

Yesterday competition watchdogs began an investigation into whether its stranglehold on the South-East constitutes a monopoly that leaves passengers forced to put up with shoddy service.

If it decides it does, BAA will almost certainly be forced to sell Gatwick or Stansted to a competitor.

The Competition Commission will also consider whether it would make sense for competing companies to run separate terminals at airports.

British Airways, Ryanair and bmi yesterday led calls for the Spanish-owned operator to be broken up.

BAA's three London air hubs handle 89 per cent of the South-East's passengers.

The firm also runs Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said this was the "root cause" of problems. Bmi meanwhile warned Heathrow's reputation had been "trashed".

Even BAA bosses admitted the passenger experience at Heathrow was "unsatisfactory" but asked the Commission not to force a sell-off.

Watchdogs said they had been inundated with complaints about BAA which had been blamed for bringing international shame on Britain.

The Competition Commission will also consider whether it would make sense for competing companies to run with complaints about BAA which has been blamed for bringing international shame on Britain.

The Commission is also investigating criticisms that BAA is harming passengers' interests by:

charging car-park bus operators to pick up and set down passengers

charging taxis too much to use airport stands

restricting competition and charges for coach and bus operators

refusing to stock some alcoholic drinks in its 'World Duty Free' shops.

The matter was referred to the Commission by the Office of Fair Trading which had "reasonable grounds" to suspect BAA's market shares in the South-East of England and Lowland Scotland 'combine to prevent, restrict or distort competition'.

BAA yesterday blamed congestion and delay problems on a lack of terminal and runway capacity.