Date: 22 April 2008
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce welcomes today's invitation by the Competition Commission to comment on its 'emerging thinking' report on the Airports investigation. Deputy Chief Executive, Graham Birse said:
"It's clear there was a near unanimous voice from business in Scotland that there was no perceived issue about market distortion through lack of competition North of the Border. The current report's implication that Aberdeen might compete with Glasgow and Prestwick and Edinburgh seems to show a complete lack of understanding of Scotland's geography. It also completely ignores the huge benefits that have come from BAA's massive investments in its airports in recent years and its overwhelming contributions to route development funding (many times that of state aid). We shall restate our case to the Competition Commission and hope that the finished report will show a better reflection of the representations made to it."
"The sooner this unsettling process is completed the sooner present owners can continue to invest with confidence in Scotland's national and international connectivity."
