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What does the report say about London's airports?
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor20 Aug 2008
WHAT DOES TODAY'S REPORT SAY ABOUT LONDON'S AIRPORTS?
The Competition Commission report says that BAA should be forced to sell two of its three London airports - almost certainly Gatwick and Stansted.
WHY DOES IT RECOMMEND THIS?
The report argues that BAA's current control of the three airports has created a monopoly and led to a worse service for travellers and airlines because of the lack of competition.
WHAT WILL THE CHANGES MEAN FOR PASSENGERS?
Views differ on this. The Competition Commission believes that once new operators are in charge, vigorous competition between the three different London airports will result in better conditions for passengers as each one fights to take customers from the other. The business organisation, London First, questions this, however, and says that the detailed regulations governing the standards that airport operators must meet are the key - rather than the ownership itself - and that is more important to re-write these than to focus on a sell-off.
WHAT ABOUT EXTRA RUNWAYS?
Today's report contains no specific proposals, but suggests that rival operators would be likely to press for expansion - including extra runways - at each of the three airports. This could potentially pave the way for a second runway at Gatwick - which today's report says BAA has wrongly failed to press for - as well as the existing plans for a third runway at Heathrow and a second at Stansted.
