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Airports landing fees 'to rise' BAA can lift airport landing fees
(about 3 hours later)
Air passengers are expected to face a rise in ticket prices of about £2 after new landing charges for Heathrow and Gatwick airports are announced later. Air passengers will face a rise in ticket prices of about £2 after new landing charges for Heathrow and Gatwick airports were announced.
The Civil Aviation Authority is said to ready to levy higher fees to allow cash to be raised to improve facilities. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has allowed airports operator BAA to lift its fees to pay for better facilities and more stringent security measures.
BAA, which operates the airports, wanted a larger rise to pay for increased security. Charges can rise by 23.5% at Heathrow in the year 2008/2009, and increase by 21% at Gatwick, the CAA said.
In a separate development, BAA will publish its controversial application to build a second runway at Stansted. The increases were criticised by airlines including British Airways.
Ageing facilities However, BAA owner Ferrovial said that the changes did not go far enough.
Since the 11 September attacks, security costs have spiralled and BAA, along with other British airport operators, have to cover the costs themselves. Ferrovial, is heavily in debt and there have been repeated calls for BAA's monopoly as airport operator to be broken up.
Air passenger groups say customer service has fallen as a result.
BAA has a monopoly over the big three London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - and its landing charges are fixed by the CAA.BAA has a monopoly over the big three London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - and its landing charges are fixed by the CAA.
The CAA will announce those prices are going up from more than £9 per passenger to possibly more than £11 at Heathrow, meaning higher ticket prices for most passengers.
The BBC's Transport correspondent, Tom Symonds, says that BAA believes the increase won't be enough to pay for £6.5bn rebuilding work at Heathrow and ageing facilities at Gatwick.
BAA's owner, the Spanish group Ferrovial, is heavily in debt and there have been repeated calls for its monopoly to be broken up.
It is currently the subject of a Competition Commission inquiry.It is currently the subject of a Competition Commission inquiry.
The BBC's Transport correspondent, Tom Symonds, says that BAA believes the increase won't be enough to pay for £6.5bn rebuilding work at Heathrow and ageing facilities at Gatwick.
Since the 11 September attacks, security costs have spiralled and BAA, along with other British airport operators, have to cover the costs themselves.
Air passenger groups say customer service has fallen as a result.