Gatwick airport fee increase review rejected

16/12/2009

Gatwick airport has been allowed to increase its fees after a court ruled against efforts to have the proposals reviewed.

Low-cost airline easyJet had hoped to force the court to review a price increase at Gatwick Airport set by the aviation regulator, but the Court of Appeal upheld a previous decision that the increase should stand.

The carrier had complained that negotiations on the fee increase between Gatwick airport and the regulator had excluded airlines and as a result the carriers had been unfairly treated.

However, in his ruling, Lord Justice Dyson stated: "I cannot accept that the airlines in general (or EasyJet in particular) have been unfairly treated."

Earlier this year, airport operator BAA reached an agreement to sell off Gatwick airport to Global Infrastructure Partners for £1.51 billion.

Gatwick is the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow and the deal was designed to create greater competition in the airport market.

Posted by Mike Booth.