Budget airline owners have called for more competition between airports.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary believes British Airport Authority-owned Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports should be allowed to compete openly to ensure better deals for customers.
He and a spokesman for fellow low-cost airline easyJet accused the BAA of operating a monopoly and called for the Civil Aviation Authority to strip the firm of some airports to ensure greater competition.
Mr O'Leary said: "If Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow were free to compete openly against each other you'd have a much better service and much lower costs."
The easyJet spokesman said it was unfair that BAA controlled 95 per cent of passenger movements through London's airports.
Mike Toms, BAA group planning and regulatory affairs director, said: "The challenge for us is to invest in the airports so airlines themselves can compete at each airport. That's what we do."
Monday October 20, 2003
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