Press Release - 9 August 2007

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has welcomed today's statement from the Competition Commission confirming that a break-up of the BAA monopoly will be considered during its investigation of BAA's dominance in the UK airports market.

Commenting on the news, Stop Stansted Expansion’s Economics Adviser Brian Ross said:

“Together with almost every major UK airline, SSE has long argued that it is anti-competitive for BAA to have a stranglehold over London's airports through its ownership of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted (the UK's three biggest airports) as well as Southampton.

BAA is no different from any other monopoly. Dominance breeds arrogance, high-handedness and an inability to listen to either passengers, customers or communities. BAA's dominance has also led to an unhealthy influence over the Department of Transport who many believe to dance to the tune of 'what BAA wants, BAA gets'.

The Competition Commission will publish its final report towards the end of next year and we are confident that this will conclude that the time has come to end the BAA monopoly."

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS
1. The Competition Commission announcement (with links to further documentation) can be accessed at: www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2007/aug/pdf/47-07.pdf

2. SSE has always supported a break-up of BAA and has made a detailed submission to the Competition Commission to that effect.

3. BAA also owns the three biggest Scottish airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen

FURTHER INFORMATION
Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE: M 0777 552 3091, cbarbone@mxc.co.uk