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Heathrow slams 'extreme' CAA plan to limit landing charges Heathrow condemns 'extreme' CAA plan to limit landing charges
(about 1 hour later)
The demands of airlines and the industry regulator to cut Heathrow's costs and landing charges are "extreme", and would impact passengers, Britain's biggest airport has warned. The demands of airlines and the industry regulator to cut Heathrow's costs and landing charges are "extreme", and would inconvenience passengers, Britain's biggest airport has warned.
The airport's boss, Colin Matthews, sounded the warning after pre-tax profits for the first half of 2013 rose to £186m from a £51m loss in the same period last year. The airport's boss, Colin Matthews, gave the warning after pre-tax profits for the first half of 2013 rose to £186m, from a £51m loss in the same period last year.
Matthews said Heathrow is on a "positive" track. He said: "Record passenger service scores together with strong passenger numbers is an encouraging basis for our financial results." Matthews said Heathrow was on a "positive" track. He said: "Record passenger service scores, together with strong passenger numbers, is an encouraging basis for our financial results."
Aeronautical income, or landing charges, rose 15.7%, a figure announced a day after Heathrow submitted new proposals to the Civil Aviation Authority with almost £200m of extra cost savings in negotiations over the level of charges for the next five years. Aeronautical income, or landing charges, rose 15.7%, a figure announced a day after Heathrow submitted new proposals to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with almost £200m of extra cost savings in negotiations over the level of charges for the next five years.
Matthews said that current proposals from the CAA to limit charges to below-inflation rises offered shareholders less than the market rate of return and involved "cost efficiency demands which are extreme". He said it was "unsurprising" that airlines were pushing even harder for landing fee reductions. But while Heathrow's own cost-saving plans were "bold", he said: "We need to be in the realm of what's deliverable and realistic. We think the demands of the CAA and the airlines are beyond bold." Matthews said current proposals from the CAA to limit charges to below-inflation rises offered shareholders less than the market rate of return and involved "cost efficiency demands which are extreme".
Airlines have suggested Heathrow outsource jobs and slash pensions. Matthews said: "We need to look at every line item of cost and employment is an important element. That's what the regulator and airlines are challenging. Every business needs to look at every line item. But we think the demands of the airlines are over the top." He said it was "unsurprising" airlines were pushing even harder for landing fee reductions. Describing Heathrow's own cost-saving plans as "bold", he said: "We need to be in the realm of what's deliverable and realistic. We think the demands of the CAA and the airlines are beyond bold."
Last week Heathrow unveiled plans for a third runway as part of its submission to the Davies Commission. Matthews took a swipe at Gatwick, which revealed its own "constellation" vision for three two-runway airports around London on Tuesday. Airlines have suggested Heathrow outsource jobs and slash pensions. Matthews said: "We need to look at every line item of cost, and employment is an important element. That's what the regulator and airlines are challenging. Every business needs to look at every line item. But we think the demands of the airlines are over the top."
The Heathrow boss said that if Gatwick's case were correct, "you'd expect to see Stansted full today – but it's not, it's half empty." In reference to Gatwick's demands for genuine competition between the airports, he added: "It's a funny sort of competition that you get by preventing your competitor from growing. If they're really interested in competition they would say let Heathrow build a third runway." Last week, Heathrow revealed plans for a third runway as part of its submission to the Davies commission. Matthews criticised Gatwick's vision, announced on Tuesday, of a "constellation" of three two-runway airports around London.
The Heathrow boss said that if Gatwick's case were correct, "you'd expect to see Stansted full today – but it's not: it's half empty". In reference to Gatwick's demands for genuine competition between the airports, he added: "It's a funny sort of competition that you get by preventing your competitor from growing. If they're really interested in competition, they would say [to] let Heathrow build a third runway."