| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 2 |
| Copyright: Other |
BAA and BA voice concern over capacity
AIRPORT operator BAA and British Airways are urging the Government to develop a framework to increase airport capacity in the southeast.
The comments are part of BAA’s response to the Government’s consultation document ‘The Future of Aviation’, which form the basis of a forthcoming White Paper. In the southeast, BAAoperates Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports.
The document said the Government should prioritise whether to approve Heathrow’s Terminal 5, support Stansted’s phased development and back the need for extra runways.
BA said the case for an improved infrastructure in the region will be the core thrust of its own submission.
The Civil Aviation Authority also highlighted capacity in the southeast as a key factor for the Government to look at, but said it was up to “individual developers” to address the problem.
It also called for a protection scheme so passengers buying tickets direct from airlines do not lose out if flights are cancelled. It also suggested that trading between airlines for slots should be made public.
A CAA spokesman said: “There is under-the-table trading between airlines to sell slots. We think there should be an agreed procedure to publish how much airlines are paying for their slots.”