28th Apr 2008 16:22
Ryanair Holdings PLC28 April 2008 BAA INTERFERES IN COMPETITION COMMISSION INQUIRY TIME TO BREAK UP THE BAA MONOPOLY Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Monday, 28th April 2008)responded to news that the BAA monopoly was caught trying to influence theCompetition Commission's inquiry into the BAA's expansion plans at StanstedAirport. The Competition Commission confirmed to the Sunday Times and theFinancial Times that the BAA had attempted to interfere in its appointmentprocess to engage a consultant to report on the airport monopoly. Ryanair has complained for years that the BAA monopoly is guilty of playing theregulatory system in order to increase charges at its monopoly airports so itcomes as no surprise that the BAA has interfered in the Competition Commission'sinquiry into its airport monopoly. At Stansted airport for example, users are unanimously opposed to the BAAmonopoly's £4bn proposed expenditure on a second terminal and runway when itcould and should be built for less than one quarter the price. The BAA Monopolyis simply gold plating this facility so that it can double airport charges.Instead of protecting the interests of airport users as it is legally obliged todo, the CAA regulator is simply rubber stamping the BAA's waste and monopolyprice hikes. Speaking today, Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan said: "The news that the BAA monopoly was caught interfering in the Competition Commission's inquiry comes as no surprise to Ryanair. The BAA has a long history of abusing its monopoly position and has for years successfully exploited its historical relationship with the CAA, which is supposed to regulate this airport monopoly. The result for passengers who pay exorbitant prices while stuck in queues, using facilities that arrive years late and don't work has been disastrous. "Ryanair welcomes the Competition Commission's inquiry into the BAA monopoly and again calls on the Government to break it up to allow competition to work where the BAA monopoly and regulation by the CAA have clearly failed". Ends Monday, 28th April 2008 For further information: Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants Tel: 00 353 1 812 1598 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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