17th Sep 2013 16:32
LONDON (Alliance News) - The UK air regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, Tuesday said it will consult the industry and other parties over future regulation of Stansted airport after the new operator of the airport signed deals with low-cost giants Ryanair Holdings PLC and easyJet PLC.
Stansted was sold by the owner of Heathrow Airport, BAA, after the regulator deemed it had too much control over airports in the southeast of England and Scotland. It was bought in February by Manchester Airport Group, which then set about securing new deals with the airport's biggest users.
The CAA had already published a consultation on possible future regulation for Stansted under its new owner, but said it would now defer a decision on what the regulation will be while it consults following the deal with Ryanair and easyJet.
Under separate new deals, the low-cost airlines both agreed to grow operations at the airport in return for more favorable landing fees and improved facilities.
The CAA had been due to publish its proposals for regulation of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports October 3, but the proposals for Stansted won't now be published on that date. The new regulatory framework for the three biggest London airports is due to come into effect from April 1 next year.
Under Ryanair's deal with Manchester Airport Group, Europe's largest low-cost carrier has pledged to grow traffic by over 50% to over 20 million passengers a year over the next 10 years. easyJet, meanwhile, signed a deal to more than double its passenger numbers at Stansted from a current 2.8 million passengers to six million passengers a year over the next five years.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @stevemcgrath1
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