9th Aug 2007 12:45
Ryanair Holdings PLC09 August 2007 RYANAIR SUPPORTS UK COMPETITION COMMISSION INVESTIGATION OF BAA AND CALLS FOR URGENT BREAK UP OF THE BAA MONOPOLY Ryanair, Britain's largest passenger airline, today ( Thursday, 9th August 2007)welcomed the UK Competition Commission's Issues Statement on their investigationof the BAA airports monopoly. The CC rightly identifies as serious issues thefollowing: O The abysmal delays being experienced by passengers going through security andimmigration at BAA airports O The effects of common ownership on the development cost and operation of theLondon Airports , and O The impact of the regulatory regime on airport development. Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs and Company Secretary, Jim Callaghan, said: "The Competition Commission has now identified the various issues where theongoing common ownership by the BAA of the main London airports is damaging thedevelopment and operation of these airports and is damaging to the travellingpublic. The BAA needs to be broken up urgently in the best interests of Britishconsumers, visitors to the UK and airline users. "The situation has now reached crisis levels. BAA have doubled passenger chargesin Stansted airport and passenger numbers have fallen for the first time sinceRyanair began operating to Stansted in 1991. As a result, routes have beencancelled and frequencies reduced. Passenger queues at security and immigrationhave also reached crisis levels with passengers being forced to wait in excessof one hour. BAA also continue to waste money and ignore the needs of users bybuilding inefficient, gold plated airport facilities at Stansted Airport, whichwill lead to another doubling of passenger charges and a further reduction inpassenger numbers and routes from London. "We are therefore calling on the Competition Commission to expedite itsinvestigation of the BAA and to force a break up of this abusive monopoly assoon as possible in the interest of consumers. It is clear that the situationwill continue to deteriorate until competition is introduced in the Londonairports market." Ends . Thursday, 9th August 2007 For reference: Lorna Farren - Ryanair Tel: +353-1-8121271 Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants Limited Tel: +353-1-4980300 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
RYA.L