p28-29 Air mar27 24/3/09 17:19 Page 28
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit
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Three of BAA’s airports are to be sold within two years, and the UK’s second-largest airports
group plans to expand as a result. Chris Gray looks at the wide-ranging ramifications of
the Competition Commission’s damning report on the management of UK airports
COMPETITION IN SCOTLAND.
Scots to gain but
Prestwick at risk?
SCOTTISH agents believe customers will benefit
from the sale of Glasgow or Edinburgh airports,
but that it could be at the expense of Prestwick,
which has grown during the no-frills boom.
Brian Potter, managing director of Clyde Travel
and air convener on the Scottish Passenger
Agents’ Association, said there could be an
immediate benefit for passengers.
He said Glasgow and Edinburgh both charged
a £10.80 per passenger fee but that that was
likely to be cut to make fares more attractive
once one of the airports had a new owner.
Potter added that the new operator would be
BAA SELL-OFF.
in place as Scotland started to climb out of
recession and demand for new routes returned.
Manchester group
But he warned the extra competition was likely
to hit Prestwick, which is heavily reliant on
no-frills airlines, particularly Ryanair.
“Prestwick would suffer if carriers were
eyes Glasgow bid
tempted to move to Glasgow because the new
owners there made airlines such as Ryanair an
offer,” he said.
Chris Gray.
Manchester has teamed up with Canadian
MANCHESTER Airport Group is planning to infrastructure fund Borealis to bid for Gatwick.
bid for Glasgow airport if it is sold off as The bid faces competition from financial fund
expected by BAA. Global Infrastructure Partners, which owns 75%
The group, which is already in the bidding for of London City airport, and Lysander Gatwick
Gatwick, believes all three airports have a similar Investment, which owns Chicago airport.
customer profile and would fit well in one group. The commission found that BAA’s ownership
The Competition Commission last week gave of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted prevented
BAA two years to sell Glasgow or Edinburgh as competition in south-east England, and the
well as Gatwick and Stansted. group’s ownership of Glasgow and Edinburgh
MAG is one of the last three bidders for prevented competition in central Scotland.
Gatwick. Its bid is attracting support from the The independent public body’s findings were
trade – many in the industry believe it has done welcomed by airlines, which said it would bring
a good job of cutting queues. better service and lower fares.
Glasgow is thought more likely to be put up BAA has two months to appeal against the
for sale than Edinburgh, and MAG believes ruling and has indicated it may do so. MANCHESTER MAGIC: Emma Curnow
Glasgow’s high volume of charter flights and The group said the commission’s analysis was from Manchester airport with Karl “the
leisure passengers compared with business “flawed” and that finding a buyer for three magnificent” Watson at a Teleticket
traffic would complement its operations at airports in two years might be “impractical in agents’ quiz night. The airport’s planned
Manchester and, potentially, Gatwick (pictured). current economic conditions”. bid for Glasgow is popular with the trade.
28 27.03.2009
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