October 26, 2011 Ryanair, the worlds favourite airline, today (26th Oct) urged the Ferrovial/BAA monopoly to stop delaying the sale of Stansted Airport, as recommended by the Competition Commission over three years ago, when the Ferrovial/BAA monopoly is clearly not in the airport users best interest as Air Asia X is the latest of a number of airlines withdrawing or cutting services at London Stansted.
The sale of Stansted Airport was recommended by the Competition Commission in 2008 as the BAAs ownership of Stansted and the way the BAA operates Stansted, had adversely affected competition. Ryanair confirmed that while Ferrovial/BAA repeatedly delays the sale of Stansted, they continue to raise fees at Stansted, which has suffered five successive years of traffic declines because of BAA Stansteds uncompetitive and high charges. Ryanair, together with Air Asia X, Air Berlin, Cyprus Airlines, Easyjet, T. Cook, Thomson and Star One have cut routes to/from Stansted in 2011 while other airports in the UK are growing routes and traffic. Ryanairs Stephen McNamara said: Ryanair calls on the Ferrovial/BAA monopoly to stop delaying the inevitable sale of Stansted Airport and stop damaging airport users and passengers with higher charges and cost increases. It is not surprising that Air Asia X has joined the growing list of airlines cutting routes from Stansted airport and switching its operations to Gatwick Airport instead. Stansted airlines and passengers continue to suffer high and rising charges, abject service levels and declining traffic at Stansted and we call on the Ferrovial/BAA monopoly to stop delaying the sale of Stansted Airport before further damage to London tourism is done. For further information please contact: Stephen McNamara Joe Carmody Ryanair Ltd Edelman Tel: +353-1-8121212 Tel. +353-1-6789333 Karin O'Conor, Edelman 5th Floor, Huguenot House, 35-38 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2 T: 00 353 (0) 1 678 9333 M: 00 353 86 1651068 F: 00 353 (0)1 661 4408 E: [email protected]: www.edelman.ie
