The Department for Transport has decided to maintain price caps at London Stansted Airport.
Its decision was despite recommendations made last summer by the Civil Aviation Authority that airline charges at Stansted should no longer be regulated.
EasyJet welcomed today’s decision, saying it was a victory for common sense.
Planning director Andrew Barker said: “Ruth Kelly and the Department for Transport officials should be congratulated for protecting air travellers from BAA ripping-off airlines at Stansted.
“They recognise that, without regulation, customers would be at the mercy of a highly-indebted infrastructure owner seeking short-term profit maximisation at the expense of air traveller.
“Rather than simply abandoning the existing regulatory system, the DfT has realised that passengers need protection through a better one and this will be the case whether the ownership structure of BAA is retained or the company is broken up.
“It is now incumbent on the CAA to act on the DfT’s findings and put in place a modern, forward-thinking regulatory system that works and to avoid “de-designation by the back door” at Stansted.
“We will be presenting our proposals to the Competition Commission, which is currently examining many of these issues.”
While Stansted will remain regulated, the DfT has decided to de-regulate Manchester Airport, so that it will no longer be subject to price caps.
A spokesman for the CAA said this was because it operated in a competitive market, with competition from nearby airports including Liverpool and East Midlands.
By Bev Fearis
