OFT examining potential break-up of BAA

News on the BBC today that the OFT (Office of Fair Trading) is conducting an eight week consultation into whether to refer BAA to Competition Commission, which could in turn recommend that BAA's control over Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead be broken up.

Question is, would this be good for VS, or indeed the fare paying passenger? Or would it likely lead to no change ... in security, airport charges, and the like. Or does BAA actually pass on the synergies of its operation (if it has any) now and would a break-up lead to lower service and higher charges?

Interesting to read BAA's response.....

"The main issue facing the UK is a lack of terminal and runway capacity in the South-East of England, which results in delay and congestion.

"This problem has not arisen because of BAA's structure, but instead is the result of the UK's complex planning laws, an antiquated regulatory system and inflexible slot allocation."

More details at at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6171365.stm

"This problem has not arisen because of BAA's structure, but instead is the result of the UK's complex planning laws, an antiquated regulatory system and inflexible slot allocation."

...and people who move into a house next to an airport and then suddenly realise there are planes flying overhead and feel the subsequent to complain, moan and make a general nuisance of themselves to the aviation community;)[}:)]

VS.

Originally posted by slinky09
News on the BBC today that the OFT (Office of Fair Trading) is conducting an eight week consultation into whether to refer BAA to Competition Commission, which could in turn recommend that BAA's control over Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead be broken up.

Question is, would this be good for VS, or indeed the fare paying passenger? Or would it likely lead to no change ... in security, airport charges, and the like. Or does BAA actually pass on the synergies of its operation (if it has any) now and would a break-up lead to lower service and higher charges?

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have commissioned research which shows that BAA holds 90% of market in the South East & 80& in Scotland.

According to the Head of OFT interviewed today, their research also shows that in a league table of European Airports, Standsted comes in at 48, Gatwick at 52, and Heathrow even further down the list.

Originally posted by andrew.m.wright
According to the Head of OFT interviewed today, their research also shows that in a league table of European Airports, Standsted comes in at 48, Gatwick at 52, and Heathrow even further down the list.

Based on what? Heathrow is nicer, in my opinion, and easier to use than almost any other airport in Europe I can think of...

Chris

Originally posted by cshore

Originally posted by andrew.m.wright
According to the Head of OFT interviewed today, their research also shows that in a league table of European Airports, Standsted comes in at 48, Gatwick at 52, and Heathrow even further down the list.

Based on what? Heathrow is nicer, in my opinion, and easier to use than almost any other airport in Europe I can think of...

Chris

From a survey of people.

How can anyone find, for example, CDG, FRA, BRU, ORY, TGL etc. preferable to LHR.

(Those were the most boring aiports I could think of in Europe;))

VS.

Originally posted by andrew.m.wright


From a survey of people.

Um, I think the question was meant to be a survey of what factors - cleanliness, quality of shops, style of buildings, efficiency of security staff?

If it were the later for example I suspect LHR would score pretty near the bottom of the pile across Europe, and possibly in the world. This is just my opinion of course, but I think you will find it is the correct opionion;)

I'd actually say the opposite, ie. bottom of pile for cleanliness & overall quality! Seeing the fiasco of what they call "security" in certain other non UK airports pushes BAA security up the ranking - IMHO! I find it especially frustrating when the person manning the x-ray monitor in foreign airports isn't even looking at the screen, haven't ever seen such a lapse in a UK airport.

Back on the quality/cleanliness side, even places like Athens, in my opinion, put LHR & LGW to shame.

Funny you should mention security. I heard on the radio today that BAA had detained a US maths teacher who was trying to board VS01. She had a ruler, set square and calculator in her hand luggage - they have charged her with carrying wepons of math instruction.

BAA being broken up could not happen soon enough. The fiasco that is the result of the security scare in the UK is a direct result of BAA wielding too much power, through government lobbying. Then there are the business practices. The mafia is more leniant when it comes to operating on their turf. BAA take huge percentages of tenant revenues and force their "preferred" contracters on to them as well. Was reading an article on VS' new club house construction (will link to it if I remember where it is) and how their construction costs were substantially higher than they could have been because VS were forced by BAA to use "preferred" contractors.

Not to mention the airports are a total disgrace to the country. I'm on the verge of ditching flying through the UK for any onward connections to Europe and flying to UK regional airports with transatlantic services to avoid having to deal with the disaster that is LHR/LGW. Unfortunately that leaves me little option to fly VS...