| The fourth largest airport in the UK, | | | | for passengers, not just in air travel but in |
| Stansted in the sleepy district of | | | | terms of the shops, restaurants and car hire |
| Uttlesford, Essex and is currently undergoing | | | | desks, greater choice is needed. |
| an inquiry into its expansion plans and | | | | |
| particularly the proposed building of a | | | | Due to the fact that practically all of the |
| second runway. This is just the last stage in | | | | major airports within the UK are owned by one |
| the development of a site that has gone from | | | | company; competition for prices and services |
| a field near the town of Stansted | | | | is non existent. Subsequently this is poor |
| Mountfitchet, to a modern, major airport with | | | | for the consumer, restricting their choices. |
| a host of auxiliary services such as shops, | | | | It would probably not be a problem apart from |
| hotels, restaurants and car hire desks. | | | | the fact that a large number of complaints |
| Predominantly the flights that leave Stansted | | | | have reached the commission, highlighting the |
| are run by budget airlines, flying to many | | | | poor service offered by BAA. Of the three |
| destinations across Europe as well as further | | | | suggested for sale, the commission wants two |
| afield. In terms of passenger numbers, | | | | of the London airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and |
| Stansted annually handles around twenty | | | | Stansted to be sold. In addition an airport |
| million annually. While this figure is large, | | | | like Edinburgh will have to be sold as well. |
| consider that the busiest airport in the UK, | | | | As Heathrow is such a money spinner with so |
| Heathrow handles around seventy million. As | | | | many accompanying services such as shops, |
| such, Stansted must expand in order to | | | | cafes and car hire provision, it is likely |
| compete. | | | | that Stansted and Gatwick will be sold. |
| | | | |
| Currently the owner of Stansted Airport, BAA | | | | But what will this do for the proposed |
| is experiencing political pressure to sell | | | | expansion plans of the Stansted site? At the |
| the site. The British Airport Authority, owns | | | | moment a large amount of resistance is being |
| seven airports within the UK, these seven | | | | put up against BAA by local residents |
| however are nearly all of the major airports | | | | claiming that the second runway rides |
| and hence the company, and its Spanish | | | | roughshod over the environment and local |
| owners, the Ferrovial Group have been accused | | | | communities. If the sale goes however, the |
| of monopolistic tendencies. A recent | | | | expansion could be put into jeopardy. While |
| commission held to discuss the state of BAA | | | | the commission argues that having competition |
| and its domination of air travel in the UK | | | | may actually increase the chance for |
| came to the conclusion that BAA should sell | | | | expansion, BAA is not so sure; they think |
| three of their sites. The competition issues | | | | their ownership is crucial in enlarging the |
| led the commission into making this | | | | capacity of the Stansted site. |
| recommendation, arguing for a better service | | | | |