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Ryanair and EasyJet refuse to pay BAA fees

Ryanair and EasyJet are threatening to break the law by withholding payments to BAA owner at Gatwick and Stansted airports.

In an escalating row over landing fees, Ryanair has said it will refuse to pay the latest price increases if BAA "continues to abuse its monopoly" and imposes the highest possible fees on the airline. EasyJet has taken a less confrontational approach and has asked BAA chief executive Colin Matthews to accept a deferral of payments pending a judicial review of the latest hike in take-off and landing fees at Gatwick. It is considering whether to unilaterally withhold money from BAA if the airport owner refuses to cooperate. The Civil Aviation Authority, the industry regulator that sets the fees, said refusal to pay landing fees would be a breach of contract.

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