BATA Responds to Gatwick Business Plan

February 14th, 2013

BATA has responded to the publication today of the Gatwick Airport business plan.

BATA Comment on Gatwick Business Plan

Responding to today’s publication of Gatwick’s business plan, Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), said:

“The presentation of Gatwick’s price commitments today is an exercise in smoke and mirrors. We do not believe it is in the passenger interest as it does not offer value for money.

“Gatwick’s charges to airlines have increased by almost 50% over the past 5 years. Today’s announcement proposes a further increase approaching 50% over the next regulatory period, while claiming this is a value for money proposition. We do not accept their arguments and reject their aim of deregulation as this is not in the interests of the travelling public.

We call on the CAA robustly to protect the interests of the consumer by retaining the economic regulation of Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow airports and using its regulatory powers to ensure there is a real term reduction in airport charges applied during the next regulatory period”.