British competition authorities have signalled the break-up of the company which owns many of the country's biggest airports.
The Competition Commission has proposed that BAA cease running two of its three London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. It has also recommended that Spanish-owned BAA lose control of either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport.
In a preliminary report, the commission said there were competition problems at each of BAA's seven UK airports 'with adverse consequences for passengers and airlines'.
The commission added that it was now 'seeking views' on which two of BAA's three London airports should be sold and which Scottish airport should be sold. It said that it would publish its final recommendations during the first quarter of 2009.
BAA has had to bear the brunt of passenger and political anger during a period where increased customer numbers, stricter baggage regulations, continuous computer glitches and the disastrous Heathrow Terminal 5 opening have combined to the detriment of the airport travelling experience for millions.
BAA's chief executive Colin Matthews said the commission's proposals risked delaying that delivery of new runways and making better customer service less likely. He said this was not the end of the process, and the company would 'continue to point out to the Commission the many areas where we believe its analysis is flawed'.
But Ryanair welcomed the report. Its director of legal and regulatory affairs Jim Callaghan said the airline 'fully endorses' its findings. 'BAA's monopoly control over the London airports has been highly detrimental to competition and consumers,' he said. Aer Lingus commercial director Enda Corneille told RTE radio that the report should result in lower costs for airlines and, as a result, would ultimately be good news for consumers.
