Ryanair slams delayed Stansted sale
08.10.11
Ryanair has reacted angrily to the news of a delay in the sale of Stansted Airport. BAA was first ordered by the Competition Commission to sell the airport over three years ago in its August 2008 report because its ownership of the airport along with Heathrow ‘adversely affected competition’. However, it was announced yesterday that BAA will now sell one of its Scottish airports before Stansted, whilst it continues to appeal this decision.
BAA has lost a series of appeals against this Stansted sale decision, with the Competition Commission ruling again in July that the airport should sill be sold. However, BAA is appealing this decision with a judicial review request, and this has resulted in yesterday's announcement that it will be allowed to change the timing of the disposals, with a Scottish airport sold first, and the sale of Stansted delayed again.
Ryanair said yesterday that believes a successful judicial review would only send the matter back to the Competition Commission, which has already ruled on three separate occasions that Stansted should be sold. It is concerned that while BAA delays the sale of Stansted, they continue to raise fees at the airport, which has suffered five successive years of passenger declines 'because of BAA Stansted's uncompetitive and high charges.'
The budget airline claim that Stansted airlines and passengers are suffering real damage as a result of these legal manoeuvres by BAA to delay the sale of Stansted.
To book a stansted airport hotels or stansted airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great stansted airport car parking and stansted airport hotel price comparison pages.
