Ryanair Response to CAA Deregulation of Stansted

RNS Number : 3387X

Ryanair Holdings PLC

10 January 2014

 



the CAA'S DEREGULATION OF STANSTED AIRPORT is MORE regulatory FAILURE that will harm consumers

THE CAA PUTS THE FOXES IN CHARGE OF the CHICKEN COOP

Ryanair, Europe's favourite airline, today (10 Jan) criticised the UK CAA's false claim that Stansted airport does not have substantial market power, and the consequent deregulation of Stansted.  Against evidence and its own earlier findings, the CAA now inexplicably claims that airlines are able to exert buyer power on Stansted in circumstances where Stansted was allowed by the CAA to double its charges in 2007, which caused a 5 year 27% traffic collapse at Stansted while Heathrow and Gatwick were growing.  Even Easyjet moved flights to Southend to avoid Stansted's high charges.

Today's deregulation decision by the CAA will allow Stansted to increase charges in future and will result in yet more damage to UK consumers and competition. This decision confirms yet again that the CAA's regulatory regime is "inadequate", as previously found by the Competition Commission in its 2009 decision to break up the BAA airport monopoly.

Ryanair's Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs, Juliusz Komorek said:

"Ryanair regrets today's unsupported claim by the CAA that Stansted does not have substantial market power and the CAA's decision to deregulate Stansted.  The CAA's failure to recognise that Stansted has profitably maintained its prices above the competitive level since 2007, despite a 27% fall in traffic, confirms the Competition Commission's finding that the CAA regulatory regime is 'inadequate'.

Today's decision is an example of the CAA's regulatory failure which will again harm consumers as Stansted will be able to further increase airport charges whenever it wishes, without any reference to competitive price levels.

Effective regulation with aggressive price caps is the only way to ensure that consumers are protected and that Stansted can grow its traffic on a sustained basis.  Ryanair condemns the CAA's continuing failure to effectively regulate Stansted."

For further information

please contact:          

Robin Kiely                            Joe Carmody 

                                    Ryanair Ltd                            Edelman Ireland

                                    Tel: [phone]              Tel: [phone]

                                    [e-mail]                [e-mail]                                    

Follow us on Twitter: @Ryanair

 

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