Airports and Airlines: Staff Debate
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Lord Londesborough
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Airports and Airlines: Staff
Lord Londesborough Excerpts(2 years, 3 months ago)
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Lord Londesborough (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the Heathrow monopoly is in the hands of owners who put the interests of shareholders far ahead of customers? Dividends of £4 billion have been drawn out in the last 10 years and the airport has been saddled with £16 billion of debt. Now it wants the regulator to approve hikes in passenger charges of well over 50%, in the midst of the most abject and abysmal service.
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
I reject the noble Lord’s comment that London Heathrow has a monopoly. There are eight slot-restricted airports in England and many other airports beyond that. I simply say to airlines: if you do not like Heathrow, go elsewhere.