Heathrow slamed in todays Wall Street Journal

[MAKEM]

BAA the operators of Heathrow and other aiports around the UK will not employ more baggage handlers, but they have increased the numbers of planes landing. I'm afraid the Spanish operators don't really care about missing bags.

 

Well said,totally agree,

BG

[Fblack]

Why would the British authorities turn over the operation of their airports to a foreign company?

[Elaine0138]

Why would the British authorities turn over the operation of their airports to a foreign company?

 

In Europe all contracts must go out for European tendering, this company obviously put the best bid together on paper.

 

July is peak holiday season, lots of people on holiday even the baggage handlers get holidays so fewer of them working, making the problem even worse. Of course BA are going to have more lost bags at Heathrow they are the biggest carriers. They are also hitting their heads against a stone wall in wanting answers from BAA.

 

Our press are always to quick to bash BA, who in their right mind believes what is written in the press nowadays.

[Globaliser]

Why would the British authorities turn over the operation of their airports to a foreign company?

This was nothing to do with the authorities, who have "turned over" nothing.

 

The British government has not owned or controlled these airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and four others) for over 20 years now - they have been in private ownership for that length of time.

 

Like any privately-owned company, particularly one listed on the stock exchange, the company that owned these airports is liable to takeover offers. It's for the shareholders to decide whether to accept the offer. When Ferrovial made its offer, the shareholders accepted it and therefore sold the company.

 

In addition, in most spheres of life it is illegal to treat a person or company from another EU country as "foreign". If it would have been acceptable for a British company to be the purchaser, it should be equally acceptable if it is a Spanish company. There are only limited grounds on which it is permissible to say "yes" to a British buyer but "no" to a Spanish buyer whose offer is otherwise identical.

[MAKEM]

This was nothing to do with the authorities, who have "turned over" nothing.

 

The British government has not owned or controlled these airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and four others) for over 20 years now - they have been in private ownership for that length of time.

 

Like any privately-owned company, particularly one listed on the stock exchange, the company that owned these airports is liable to takeover offers. It's for the shareholders to decide whether to accept the offer. When Ferrovial made its offer, the shareholders accepted it and therefore sold the company.

 

In addition, in most spheres of life it is illegal to treat a person or company from another EU country as "foreign". If it would have been acceptable for a British company to be the purchaser, it should be equally acceptable if it is a Spanish company. There are only limited grounds on which it is permissible to say "yes" to a British buyer but "no" to a Spanish buyer whose offer is otherwise identical.

 

add to thread,

the Owner, Rafael del Pino, his Spanish company, Ferro-vial, bought it last year.