Flybe anger at CAA decision on landing charges at Gatwick

Flybe, Europe’s biggest low cost regional airline and one of London Gatwick’s largest airlines, called for the break-up of the BAA monopoly and the replacement of the CAA as regulator in the wake of their announcement that BAA would be allowed to increase landing charges by 21.3%.

Flybe currently provides lifeline services to London Gatwick from places such as Belfast, Inverness, Newcastle, Aberdeen and the Channel Islands which are crucial in supporting the economy of the UK regions.

Commenting on the swingeing increases, Flybe Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said:

“In any marketplace where the airlines are exceptionally competitive to award what are essentially monopolistic profits and a license to print money to an unproductive and uncompetitive company is nothing short of a national disgrace. We always knew that the CAA cared little about the UK regions but this announcement proves this, as they reward BAA for years of failure and profligacy with a fat cat rise”

He continued:

“We call on the Competition Commission to break up BAA, an organisation now owned by a debt-ridden company who clearly have no interest in the well-being of the UK economy. It is also time for the Ruth Kelly to urgently review the position of the CAA in regulating aviation and to overturn the CAA ruling in the same way as they recently did in Stansted”.