"Scottish airport 'monopoly' is unfair claim city chiefs"

Tuesday, May 28, 2002

Airport 'monopoly' is unfair claim city chiefs
BY JAMES DOHERTY
United Kingdom - The Scotsman


COMPETITION watchdogs have been urged to launch an investigation into
the ownership of Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports.

The Office of Fair Trading last night confirmed that it had received a
complaint from Glasgow City Council, claiming that BAA Scottish
Airports' control of both airports was contrary to fair competition
legislation.

The council insists that the company's stranglehold on the Scottish
airport market was leaving Glasgow at a major disadvantage, Charles
Gordon, the council leader, saying: "We are questioning the current
ownership arrangements."

BAA Scottish Airports is a subsidiary of the private airports authority
BAA, which also owns Aberdeen, Heathrow and Gatwick.

After months of wrangling between Glasgow and Edinburgh over which city
will win the fight for a dedicated rail link to their respective
airports, and an increase in Edinburgh's passenger numbers, Mr Gordon
made it clear he would do all that he could to reverse a decline in
Glasgow's fortunes.


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