At today's general meeting of BAR UK, the trade association for scheduled airlines, members expressed their outrage at the price increases proposed by the CAA for Heathrow, one of the London airports operated by BAA. The CAA have proposed a 9% increase this year followed by +6.5% above inflation for each of the following four years at Heathrow.

The Chairman of the CAA, Sir Roy McNulty CBE, was the guest speaker at this, the first general meeting of the year for BAR UK members. He was left in no doubt as to the extent of feeling on the subject of the proposed price hikes. The senior executives who represent the scheduled airlines doing business in this country were unanimous in expressing their anger at the proposals.

Mike Carter, Vice Chairman of BAR UK, said: "Our members are faced with an increase in charges of about 40%, excluding inflation, over the next five years and this is totally unacceptable".

The increases proposed are amongst the largest allowed by a UK regulator and way beyond what the BAA need to earn as an adequate return on their investment.

BAR UK's Chief Executive, Peter North, added: "The CAA has an obligation to further the interests of airport users and, at a time when many of our members are struggling to make ends meet, this proposal is unjustifiable. If confirmed it will inevitably increase the cost of travel. We have asked the CAA to think again."

...ENDS

For further information contact:
Peter North,
Chief Executive,
BAR UK

Tel:	020 7393 1261
Fax:	020 7393 1206
Email:	peter.north@bar-uk.org