RYANAIR CALLS ON THE CAA TO DO MORE AT STANSTED

2013-04-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC), today (30 Apr) called on the UK CAA to do more to tackle excessive airport charges and falling passenger numbers at Stansted.  Following the doubling of charges at Stansted in the last 5 years, which has led to a dramatic 25% traffic collapse, the CAA’s proposal to “monitor” charges at Stansted over the next 5 years does nothing to constrain Stansted’s absolute pricing power over its airline users and passengers.

The CAA’s proposal that airport charges at Stansted can increase by half the rate of inflation over the next 5 years sanctions further charge increases at the airport which has already suffered the greatest ever traffic decline of any London airport.  This proposal falls lamentably short of what is required to restore traffic growth and consumer choice at Stansted.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“We call on the CAA to require that airport charges at Stansted reduce by the rate of inflation minus 10% every year for the next 5 years.  This will bring charges closer to competitive levels and will result in traffic recovery and growth at Stansted.

We also call on Stansted’s new owners, Manchester Airport Group, to support this sensible and rational proposal which will allow Stansted airport to grow by allowing airlines to offer passengers a greater choice of routes and lower fares out of Stansted.

We look forward to active engagement from the CAA with MAG, to the benefit of UK’s ordinary consumers and the UK’s tourism industry. ”

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