Aberdeen Airport committee reject Competition Commission report
06.09.08
Proposals put forward for tighter regulation of Aberdeen Airport have been challenged by a community liaison group. The airport's consultative committee, representing north-east councils, business groups and other regional interests, said yesterday it was unconvinced by a number of proposals put forward in a recent report by the Competition Commission.
The report published by the Commission last month suggested changes at Aberdeen Airport including the introduction of caps on landing charges. The proposals for change at the airport came after the commission found competition was almost non-existent in the north-east of Scotland because of its relatively isolated location. The commission was also critical of past levels of investment in the airport.
However, airport consultative committee chairman Peter Smart said: ‘It does not really matter who the owner or operator of the airport is – it will always operate in what the commission calls a monopoly situation.'
‘Aberdeen is not alone. A number of other airports in the UK also serve a relatively isolated population. None of these are covered by the commission’s review because they are not owned by BAA. We are not convinced that Aberdeen should be treated any differently to any of these other more isolated provincial airports.’
In response to the commission’s concerns about a lack of development, Mr Smart pointed to BAA’s recent investment at Aberdeen Airport. He said: ‘We do not feel that the commission has given sufficient recognition to recent levels of spend, which should continue next year. It is unacceptable that Aberdeen should be singled out for treatment that will not be applied to other airports.’
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