BAA- End of monopoly long overdue

[civil aviation]

Thatcherites (remember them- free competition etc.) have admitted, off the record, that the 'privatisation' of the BAA monopoly was a huge mistake.

In BAA-free parts of the country, there is some choice and competition but, in the South East and Scotland, the airlines and their customers are ripped-off and suffer a terminal experience. Ludicrous check-in time excused by 'security' is the latest excuse for corralling customers in rip-off retail areas. It gets worse because any 'competitor' (non-BAA) airport operator doesn't have to be either cheap or good to be better than the legendary BAA 'terminal experience'. Hence the recent rush by the get-rich-quick brigade to buy Council-owned airports.
New Labour was never going to renationalise BAA so why, in over 10 years, haven't they broken-up BAA into separate individual airport companies?
BTW, it would be in the public interest for it to be unlawful to own more than one one airport within a reasonable distance of, for example, 100 miles.

[TartinTon]

You've been to Manchester, have you? :sad::sad::sad:

[PAXboy]

This topic much discussed in many threads and no one really suggests other than to break it up.

The how and when is the point but, since policiticans are involved, it will be a mess. Futher, the CAA will be closely involved to advise the politicians ... still feeling confident? :oh:

[MUFC_fan]

Why are politicians to become involved?

Personally, I feel the government have nothing to do with BAA anymore. They sold up. End of. How can they now have a say at what goes on?!

Surely the Competition Comittee will deal with it. The CAA regulate (well...officially anyway) the sector, not the government.

[PAXboy]

MUFC_fan Surely the Competition Comittee will deal with it. The CAA regulate (well...officially anyway) the sector, not the government.
I'm not sure if they are still called 'Monopolies & Mergers Commission' but, eeerrrrr, who do you think owns the the competition people and the CAA???

[MUFC_fan]

eeerrrrr, who do you think owns the the competition people and the CAA???


Does Malcolm Glazer tell Sir Alex Ferguson who to pick?
Does your mortgage provider tell you what colour to have in your kitchen because they funded your house?

Just because they OWN them, doesn't mean they have to interfere.