Cheaper flights likely as BAA told to sell airports

ISLANDERS should see cheaper airfares when major UK airports are sold.

Airlines including Flybe and Aurigny have welcomed the news that BAA, the company that owns UK links including Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh, is being told to sell them off to break up its monopoly.

Flybe spokesman Niall Duffy said having a variety of companies owning the airports would increase competition with operators likely to reduce landing fees in order to compete, benefiting airlines and perhaps passengers in turn.

'We hope that this will mean we will all have to pay less to fly,' he said. After releasing its report, the Competition Commission watchdog confirmed it will require Spanish-owned BAA to sell three of the seven UK airports that it owns, in order to encourage competition to benefit passengers and airlines.

Mr Duffy said Flybe had been calling for the break up of BAA's monopoly for a long time.

Aurigny's commercial director Malcolm Coupar said passengers should also expect a better service at the airports in future, particularly Gatwick.

'That airport had been lacking in funds and was a bit untidy. This is for the best. BAA owning all three links had been a negative thing - this news should be good for our customers.'