Ryanair slams CAA airport fines as irrelevant

Ryanair today criticised the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA’s) proposal to impose fines on poor performing airports and called once again for the immediate sale of London Stansted Airport in order to improve airport performance and competition.

Ryanair questioned why it had taken the CAA so long to address the inadequate performance of airports and why it has taken a Competition Commission investigation before the CAA has addressed costs at London’s airports.

Speaking today, Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara, said:

“The CAA has rightly followed the recommendations of the Competition Commission in relation to pricing after a review of BAA’s abusive practices at Stansted airport. BAA consistently ignores the requirements of users in order to build grossly expensive facilities and provides very poor service levels to passengers as demonstrated by horrendous security queues.

“Today’s proposal by the CAA to fine poor performing airports is too little too late after it has presided over years of abysmal service at Stansted and its history of rubber stamping cost increases for airports. How can any airport passenger or airline believe that the CAA will impose any real sanction on airports for poor performance after it has ignored and tolerated such abysmal performance for so many years?”