BAA's new bid to stop Stansted saleBy Web Reporter
BAA is to make a last stand against the Competition Commission’s (CC) order to sell Stansted Airport.
Today (Thursday, September 15) the operator confirmed that it will seek a judicial review of the monopolies watchdog's decision requiring it to auction its Uttlesford hub and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport.
A statement confirmed: “The challenge relates to the Competition Commission's consideration of whether there have been material changes of circumstances since its original 2009 decision such that it is not necessary or appropriate to require BAA to divest Stansted.”
BAA will be submitting the application for judicial review to the Competition Appeal Tribunal tomorrow (Friday, September 16).
The move comes after July's judgement, when the CC rejected BAA’s claim that there had been "material changes in circumstances" since it provisionally ordered the auction of its Essex hub in March – and concluded the deal must go ahead.
Despite a series of legal challenges, the CC insisted that the sale of the airport was “fully justified” and that passengers and airlines would still benefit from greater competition with the airports under separate ownership - despite the current Government's decision to rule out new runways at any of the London airports.
Then BAA’s chief executive Colin Matthews said: “We are dismayed … The Competition Commission has not recognised that the world and BAA have changed. This decision would damage our company which is investing strongly in UK jobs and growth.”
After the judicial review bid was announced today, Stop Stansted Expansion’s economics adviser Brian Ross said: "This is appalling behaviour and an abuse of the legal process. It's simply aimed at trying to cling onto Stansted for as long as possible in the hope of obtaining a better price."