Ryanair Welcomes BAA Decision To Sell Stansted And Calls For Early Sale To Prevent Further Traffic D

Ryanair, Europe's only ultra-low cost airline, today (20 Aug) welcomed the decision of the BAA monopoly to finally see sense and proceed with the sale of London Stansted Airport, as recommended by the Competition Commission (in 2008), which noted the BAA's monopoly of London's big 3 airports 'adversely affected competition'.

Ryanair has called for the early sale of Stansted, where the BAA has presided over declines from 24m passengers (2007) to just 18m in 2011. Stansted's traffic continues to decline with 700,000 fewer passengers in the first 7 months of 2012, while Heathrow and Gatwick grow. This proves the BAA monopoly is damaging Stansted and harming consumers.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:

"Ryanair welcomes today's decision by the BAA to finally see sense and sell Stansted, as first recommended by the UK Competition Commission over four years ago. Since 2008, the BAA has doubled prices at Stansted and overseen a decline in traffic from 24m in 2007 to 18m in 2011, with traffic continuing to decline in 2012.

The BAA's seven failed court appeals were nothing more than a blatant attempt to delay the sale while BAA and its Spanish owners, Ferrovial, fattened up its monopoly profits at the expense of airlines, passengers and British jobs. It is now time for Ferrovial to get on with selling Stansted.

The sale of Stansted into separate ownership will lead to more competition, lower passenger charges, improved passenger services and the roll out of additional and much needed traffic growth at competitive prices in Stansted."