Easyjet threatening to withhold part of Gatwick airport charges

EasyJet has told BAA that it intends to withhold part of the airport fees its customers must pay at Gatwick following a 21% rise.

It says it will hold back part of the £6.97 the airport operator is charging for each passenger in a separate account until it gets the results of a Judicial Review.

The airline has challenged the rise in charges at the airport, which came into force on April 1.

“To the extent that our challenge fails, we will hand over the money withheld to you along with any interest accrued,” it said in a letter to BAA’s new chief executive Colin Matthews.

“If our challenge succeeds, and a lower charge is then set, we will implement a mechanism to return what we have saved to our customers.”

In the letter, easyJet CEO Andy Harrison repeated the airline’s strong objection to the 21% increase and gave BAA until Wednesday (April 16) to agree the principles of the arrangement.

“We are determined to address a regulatory decision which we consider to be unlawful and damaging for the airlines, our passengers and the industry as a whole,” said Harrison.

By: Bev Fearis