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