This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7951196.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| BAA ordered to sell Scots airport | BAA ordered to sell Scots airport |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Britain's competition watchdog has given airport company BAA the option of selling Glasgow or Edinburgh airport. | Britain's competition watchdog has given airport company BAA the option of selling Glasgow or Edinburgh airport. |
| An interim report last year by the Competition Commission said BAA should sell Edinburgh airport. | An interim report last year by the Competition Commission said BAA should sell Edinburgh airport. |
| But the commission's final report has now given the operator the option to sell either of the two airports. | But the commission's final report has now given the operator the option to sell either of the two airports. |
| Gordon Dewar from BAA said no decision had been made about whether either Glasgow or Edinburgh would be sold - and refused to rule out an appeal. | Gordon Dewar from BAA said no decision had been made about whether either Glasgow or Edinburgh would be sold - and refused to rule out an appeal. |
| The commission added that Aberdeen Airport had to improve consultation with airlines and publish financial information to improve transparency. | The commission added that Aberdeen Airport had to improve consultation with airlines and publish financial information to improve transparency. |
| It also ruled that BAA must first sell both Gatwick and Stansted airports, and that all three airports should be sold within two years. | |
| We continue to believe that the commission's analysis of the Scottish airports market is misguided and its remedies may not be practical in current economic conditions Gordon DewarBAA Scotland Will Scottish airport sales take off? | We continue to believe that the commission's analysis of the Scottish airports market is misguided and its remedies may not be practical in current economic conditions Gordon DewarBAA Scotland Will Scottish airport sales take off? |
| BAA has already announced plans to sell Gatwick airport but said it wanted to retain all its Scottish hubs - in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. | BAA has already announced plans to sell Gatwick airport but said it wanted to retain all its Scottish hubs - in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. |
| The Spanish-owned company currently runs seven airports in Britain. | The Spanish-owned company currently runs seven airports in Britain. |
| The commission has said it must sell three of them, including one in Scotland, to increase choice for its customers, both passengers and airlines. | The commission has said it must sell three of them, including one in Scotland, to increase choice for its customers, both passengers and airlines. |
| The airports must be sold to different purchasers. | The airports must be sold to different purchasers. |
| Manchester Airports Group - which owns several airports in England - is reported to be among potential bidders if Glasgow or Edinburgh come up for sale. | Manchester Airports Group - which owns several airports in England - is reported to be among potential bidders if Glasgow or Edinburgh come up for sale. |
| BAA's other airports include Heathrow and Southampton. | BAA's other airports include Heathrow and Southampton. |
| Competitive rivalry | Competitive rivalry |
| Christopher Clarke, who chaired the inquiry, said the sale of the airports would bring "substantial benefits to passengers and airlines". | Christopher Clarke, who chaired the inquiry, said the sale of the airports would bring "substantial benefits to passengers and airlines". |
| He said: "We expect that the new airport owners, with the operating capabilities and financial resources to develop them as effective competitors, will have a much greater incentive than BAA to be more responsive to their customers." | He said: "We expect that the new airport owners, with the operating capabilities and financial resources to develop them as effective competitors, will have a much greater incentive than BAA to be more responsive to their customers." |
| He added that the airport sales would "kick-start a process of competitive rivalry from a standing start where today there is no competition at all". | He added that the airport sales would "kick-start a process of competitive rivalry from a standing start where today there is no competition at all". |
| BAA said it would consider the terms of the report before deciding how to respond, but it may contest the ruling. | BAA said it would consider the terms of the report before deciding how to respond, but it may contest the ruling. |
| BAA's Gordon Dewar said: "We remain proud of our track record in Scotland, and have delivered substantial investments in both customer service and route development, to the country's clear competitive advantage. | BAA's Gordon Dewar said: "We remain proud of our track record in Scotland, and have delivered substantial investments in both customer service and route development, to the country's clear competitive advantage. |
| "We continue to believe that the commission's analysis of the Scottish airports market is misguided and its remedies may not be practical in current economic conditions." | "We continue to believe that the commission's analysis of the Scottish airports market is misguided and its remedies may not be practical in current economic conditions." |