Supply of airport services by BAA market investigation reference (OFT)

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) referred the supply of airport services by BAA in the UK to the Competition Commission (CC) for investigation.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 30 March 2007

• Case type: Markets
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Transport
• Outcome: Markets - phase 1 referral
• Opened: 1 December 2006
• Closed: 30 March 2007

Action before reference

The OFT carried out a market study into BAA airports.

Reason for reference

Date of reference: 30 March 2007

The OFT has referred the supply of airport services by BAA in the UK to the Competition Commission (CC) for further investigation. This decision comes after public consultation during which over 60 responses were received from parties including airlines, consumers and other organisations. Having considered the points made by respondents to the consultation, the majority of whom supported referral, the OFT is of the view that the competition concerns it identified prior to the consultation exercise remain valid and that an investigation by the CC is now warranted. See OFT882 below for a summary of features which form the basis for this reference.

Key documents

• UK airports report on the market study and proposed decision to make a market investigation reference (pdf 2.8Mb) December 2006
• BAA - The OFT's reference to the CC (pdf 924kb) April 2007
• BAA: The OFT’s reference to the CC - Executive summary (pdf 93 kb) April 2007
• Press release OFT refers BAA to the Competiton Comission 30 March 2007 

Information on the Competition Commission’s BAA airports market investigation is on GOV.UK.

Published 30 March 2007