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BAA must develop Aberdeen Airport or sell it off
Holyrood, 20 October 2003
BAA must demonstrate it has what it takes to make Aberdeen airport a
success or else hand it over to new owners, Shadow Minister for
Transport Mr Kenny MacAskill MSP said today (Monday).
Accompanied by Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam, Mr MacAskill published
a paper showing the UK Government’s disposal of their Golden Share
in BAA plc opens up potential changes to the ownership and operation
of Aberdeen Airport.
The paper highlights the variety of other major airport operators
throughout the sector and concludes that whilst remaining within the
BAA plc fold is one option there are others available.
The current operators must therefore produce an acceptable vision
and plan for the Airport or move on. Commenting, Mr MacAskill said:
“The disposal of the Golden Share means all options are go for the
ownership and operation of the Airport. The BAA monopoly no longer
applies.
“This is an opportunity to find out from BAA what their plans are
and if they are unsatisfactory to seek to move them on. There are
other options in terms of ownership.
“Moreover other cities and regions have seen greater growth and
development in aviation than here. Scotland’s third city currently
has an airport that is fourth rate. It needs and deserves a first
rate airport to compete and allow the North East to fully develop.
The ownership is up for grabs and the City should consider all
options.”
Mr Adam added:
“The City and the North East have an opportunity to plot a flight
path for the airport. That may be with BAA in the cockpit but it
need not be.
“The people and business in the North East are entitled to ask BAA
where they intend to take us and if their answer proves
unsatisfactory, to change the pilot and the crew.
“The airport is fundamental to the city’s social and economic
development. The disposal of the Golden Share offers an opportunity
to choose not just the carriers we fly with but the airport
operators we land and depart from. It's game on as far as the
ownership of the airport is concerned.”