OFT, Britain”s Office of Fair Trading, is to study the UK airports
market with a view to establishing whether the current structure works
well for consumers. It says that the decision to proceed with the
study reflects the importance of airports to consumers and businesses
within the UK. In a statement it pointed out that nearly two-thirds
of UK air passengers begin or end their journey at BAA Plc airports.
Within the London area this rises to nine out of ten passengers, and
in Scotland over eight out of ten air passengers flying from the
privatized former national airport organization. At this stage the
OFT has not reached a decision on whether a reference for a more
in-depth investigation by the Competition Commission is warranted but
it hopes to publish the results of the study by the end of 2006.
http://www.oft.gov.uk