Ryanair welcomes Gatwick Airport sale, and wants Stansted to follow

RYANAIR has today (Wednesday October 21) welcomed the sale of London Gatwick as the first step in the much needed break up of BAA.Ryanair is today presenting its case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal calling for the further break up of BAA and the earl

RYANAIR has today (Wednesday October 21) welcomed the sale of London Gatwick as the first step in the much needed break up of BAA.

Ryanair is today presenting its case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal calling for the further break up of BAA and the early sale of London Stansted Airport and one of the BAA's Scottish airports, as recommended by the UK Competition Commission.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said: "It is vital for the future of Britain's air transport and tourism industries that the high cost, inefficient BAA monopoly be broken up as recommended by the Competition Commission report. The Competition Commission's extensive investigation has revealed that the airport monopoly has been bad for competition and bad for consumers.

"The future of British air transport and tourism depends on the growth of low fare air travel to/from the London airports. Regional airports all over the UK are now lowering costs to attract more low fare routes and tourists.

"Ryanair and all other airlines at Stansted are strongly campaigning for the break up of the BAA monopoly, because competition is the only way to ensure that competition and the consumer interest is protected from the damage inflicted by years of the high cost BAA monopoly".