News from ERG

31 August 2010

• Responses to the CAA's May 2010 and July 2010 proposals for NATS (En Route) plc price control review for control period 3 (2011-2014)

23 July 2010

• NATS (En Route) plc price control review for control period 3 (2011-2014): Implications of SES II
• Annex A: Revised Charging Regulation July 2010
• Annex C: Draft Licence Conditions

1 July 2010

• NERL CP3 Price Control - CAA's May 2010 Consultation Document (presentation from industry seminar 29 June 2010)

27 May 2010

• NATS (En Route) plc: CAA price control proposals (2011-2014)
• NATS (EnRoute) plc: CAA price control proposals (2011-2014) - In focus 4-page summary
• Consultants' reports supporting CAA price control proposals (2011-2014)

7 May 2010

• Gatwick Airport revised triggers
• As part of its review of the price control on NATS (En Route) plc for control period 3, the CAA will be holding oral hearings with stakeholders on Tuesday 7 September and Friday 10 September 2010.  More details of the hearings will be in the CAA's next consultation document for the review which will be published towards the end of May 2010.
• Notice of investigation by the CAA into the conduct of Heathrow Airport Limited in its dispute with Courier Facilities Limited

15 April 2010

• Responses to the CAA's February 2010 consultation for the NATS (En Route) plc price control review for control period 3

26 March 2010

• Preparing for a more competitive airports sector: Objectives and processes

12 March 2010

• Heathrow and Gatwick airports: CAA update and decision following audit of Service Quality Standards and Rebates Scheme
• Airports economic regulation - Review of price control process: Call for views

11 March 2010

• Gatwick Airport and airlines at the airport have jointly proposed amendments to the capital expenditure triggers at the airport. A note on the proposal, with attachments follow - note on proposal, Pier 1 Amendment, Pier 2 amendment, NW Zone amendment, guidance slides.

1 March 2010

• Accessible Air Travel: CAA review on the implementation of European legislation on the rights of disabled and reduced mobility passengers in the UK
• In Focus (short summary document on Accessible Air Travel)
• Research into air passengers' experiences and expectations of the EC Regulation on the rights of disabled persons and persons of reduced mobility when travelling by air - Research report produced by SHM

24 February 2010

• Letter from Stansted Airport on service quality

9 February 2010

• NATS (En Route) plc price control review for control period 3 - consultation document
• In Focus (4 page summary document)
• Cost of capital for NATS (En Route) plc for CP3 - Report for the CAA by Europe Economics
• Regulating Finance for NATS CP3 - Report for the CAA by Europe Economics
• Advice to the CAA on NERL's Approach to Capital Investment Planning and Implementation - Report on Stage 2 by Logica
• Letter from BARUK. BATA and IATA for NERL CP3 review

4 February 2010

• Promoting Financial Resilience for Major Airports - Response of the Civil Aviation Authority to the consultation by the Department for Transport

29 January 2010

• Letter to Stansted Airport on service quality

4 January 2010

• Letter from Gatwick Airport on service quality

11 December 2009

• NATS (En Route) plc NERL has today published its revised Baseline Business Plan setting out its projections for the period 2011 to 2015, alongside a report from the co-chairs of the Customer Consultation Working Group. This business plan updates the Baseline Business Plan, published in April 2009, reflecting the Customer Consultation process and more up to date information. The revised Baseline Business Plan published today is subject to exogenous factors (e.g. more up to date information about projected traffic) and changes to the CAA's regulatory model. NERL's final business plan submission will be published in March 2010.  In accordance with the published timetable for the CP3 review, the CAA intends to publish a consultation document in February 2010 that sets out the CAA's proposals for the scope and structure of the price control, as well as the CAA's initial reflections on NERL's revised Baseline Business Plan. Taking into account responses to that consultation, and also the submission in March 2010 of NERL's final business plan submission, the CAA intends to consult on comprehensive price control proposals in May 2010.
• Revised Baseline Business Plan
• Co-chairs letter

1 December 2009

• Assessment of capital expenditure and consultation at Heathrow and Gatwick airports during the first two years of Q5
• Responses to consultation on terms of reference for assessment of capital expenditure and consultation at Heathrow and Gatwick

24 November 2009

• Letter to Gatwick Airport about service quality
• Letter from Stansted Airport about service quality

20 November 2009

• Letter from Heathrow Airport about service quality

13 November 2009

• On 3 August 2009 the CAA published an audit of the service quality rebate measures at Heathrow and Gatwick airports after one year of the Q5 price cap in accordance with its decision of March 2008. The CAA is now publishing a consultation document proposing the next steps for implementing the audit's findings. The closing date for responses is 8 January 2009. The consultation document and audit report are available below:
• Consultation document: Heathrow and Gatwick Airports - CAA proposals following service quality audit
• Audit of SQR measures at Heathrow and Gatwick airports

5 November 2009

• Preparing for a more competitive airports sector - Initial consultation document: objectives and processes.  (2 page factsheet)
• Letter to Heathrow Airport about service quality
• Letter to Stansted Airport about service quality
• Beesley Lecture - The development of competition in the UK airport market - by Harry Bush

15 October 2009

• NATS (En Route) plc price control review for Control Period 3, 2011-2015: Timetable for the CAA-led phase of the CP3 review

29 September 2009

• The CAA has published its response to the UK Consultation on the European Commission's proposed Aviation Security Charges Directive.  The response and covering letter can be found here.

4 September 2009

• On 4 September 2009 the CAA published a suite of consultancy studies commissioned as part of its scrutiny of NERL's business plan under the CP3 price control review.  These studies can be downloaded from the links below:
  • Benchmarking of NATS cost performances relative to selected Air Navigation Service Providers - Helios
  • Assessment of NERL's back office costs - LECG
  • Assessment of NERL's employment costs - IDS
  • NERL's approach to capital investment planning and implementation - Logica
  • NERL's revenue and cost allocation study - LECG

13 August 2009

• On 18 May 2009 the CAA sought views on how effectively the EC Regulation concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) when travelling by air is being implemented in the UK. The non-confidential comments the CAA received are now available by clicking here. The CAA is planning to publish a report on the implementation of the Regulation in the UK in November 2009.

3 August 2009

• On August 3rd the CAA has published an audit of the service quality rebate measures at Heathrow and Gatwick airports after one year of the Q5 price cap in accordance with its decision of March 2008. 
  The CAA intends to consult on the next steps for the possible implementation of findings at the end of September.

27 July 2009

• NATS (En Route) plc price control review for Control Period 3, 2011-2015: Mid-term review of Customer Consultation
• Assessment of capital expenditure and consultation at Heathrow and Gatwick airports - letter to industry

29 May 2009

• Ground handling of recognised Assistance Dogs.

  Following a number of queries from industry, the CAA has produced the following note to clarify its interpretation of EC Regulation 1107/2006 (the Regulation) relating to the Passengers with Reduced Mobility. The issue for clarification relates to provisions under Annex I regarding ground handling of recognised assistance dogs, including through Animal Reception Centres.

  Article 8(1) of the Regulation clearly states that the airport, rather than the airline, shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of such assistance.

  Article 8(2) does however say that the airport can do this by either providing the assistance itself or by contracting with one or more parties (which may include an airline) to do so.

  In light of these provisions, and with regard to provision of ground-handling services for guide dogs, the CAA believe it is permissible for an airport and airline to agree that the airline can contract directly with a ground handler or animal reception centre at an airport.

  However, with regard to Article 8(1), the airport is responsible for the assistance. An airport cannot compel an airline to contract directly with a ground handler or animal reception centre at an airport.

22 May 2009

• Reforming the framework for the economic regulation of UK airports - The CAA's response to the Department for Transport's consultation. Supporting Paper I - Constructive Engagement, Supporting Paper II - The Competition Commission's analysis of the CAA's regulation of designated airports
• The CAA is seeking views on the progress of NATS' Customer Consultation process. (The process is designed to inform the CAA's decision on NATS' charges from 2010). The CAA has invited views from the co-chairs of the Customer Consultation Working Group. It would also accept views from other interested parties, whether they are represented on the Working Group or not. The letters to the co-chairs follow: letter to NATS co-chair - letter to airline co-chair.

18 May 2009

• The CAA is seeking views on how effectively the EC Regulation concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) when travelling by air is being implemented in the UK. This work is being carried out in close co-operation with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI) and the Department for Transport (DfT). The CAA has prepared sets of questions to help guide, but not limit, responses. The questions can be found by using the following links: questions on PRM Regulation for airport operators, questions on PRM Regulation for airlines, tour operators and travel agents, questions on PRM Regulation for consumer groups. The CAA would welcome responses by 31 July 2009. It would expect to make all responses available on its website unless otherwise advised. Any material that is confidential should be clearly marked and included in a separate annex. Responses should be sent to airportregulation@caa.co.uk.

15 May 2009

• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published a report on air passengers travelling for business purposes.   The report looks at how this traffic has changed by sector (long-haul, short-haul and domestic), and the characteristics of these passengers. It also looks at the expansion of the Business Aviation sector, which provides on-demand air services using small business aircraft, typically with less than 15 seats.
  

13 May 2009

• Competition Commission market investigation into BAA Ltd: CAA response to the Commission's recommendations on Heathrow information protocol and service quality audits - CAA letter to BAA, letter to LACC Heathrow, letter to Heathrow AOC

31 March 2009

• Accounting requirements for Manchester Airport under the Airports Act 1986 - CAA decision

27 March 2009

• Gatwick Airport - CAA decision on modifications of the Statement of Standards and Rebates to include three additional elements

25 March 2009

• Gatwick Airport - CAA decision on the specification of capex triggers

13 March 2009

• Airport regulation: Economic Regulation of Stansted Airport 2009-2014 - CAA decision document.  
• Economic Regulation of Stansted Airport 2009-2014 - investment analyst presentation
• NERL CP3 price control review - CAA mandate (terms of reference) for Customer Consultation agreed between CAA and NERL

9 March 2009

• ERG has published a study on air passengers visiting friends or relatives (VFR), indicating that the robust growth of the VFR traffic segment since 2001 reflects trends such as increased labour mobility, migration, and ownership of second homes abroad.  The full report can be found here.

• On Friday 13 March 2009, the CAA will be publishing its decision for the price control at Stansted Airport for the five years starting 1 April 2009.

5 March 2009

• A preliminary estimate of NERL's asset beta

3 March 2009

• CAA decision on audit of service quality measurement at Heathrow and Gatwick

2 March 2009

• Gatwick Airport - CAA proposals for modification to the Statement of Standards and Rebates to include three additional elements
• Letter from Heathrow Airport on service quality

27 February 2009

• Heathrow Airport - CAA decision on the specification of capex triggers
• Letter from Gatwick Airport about service quality.

18 February 2009

• NATS (En Route) plc price control review for Control Period 3 2011-2015: CAA policy update

12 February 2009

• Additional responses to Stansted price control review (link to all responses)

6 February 2009

• Additional response to NATS (En Route) plc CP3 price control review consultation from NATS on cost of capital
• Additional response to Stansted price control proposals from BAA on cost of capital
• Additional response to Stansted price control proposals from Mr Robertson
• Letter to Gatwick airport about service quality
• Letter to Heathrow airport about service quality

5 February 2009

• Responses to Stansted Airport CAA price control proposals (BAA, Stansted Airlines Consultative Committee, Ryanair, AUC)

28 January 2009

• Proposals on accounting requirements for Manchester Airport under the Airports Act 1986

14 January 2009

• Competition Commission's market investigation of BAA Ltd - the CAA's response to the provisional decision on remedies
• Responses to initial consultation document for the NATS (En route) plc CP3 price control review.

8 January 2009

• Responses to proposals for specification of capex triggers for Heathrow Airport.

16 December 2008

• The presentation for the industry seminar on the CAA's price control proposals for Stansted Airport is now available. The transcript of the industry seminar is also available.

9 December 2008

• The CAA has published price control proposals for Stansted Airport. The CAA has also published a 4-page briefing on the proposals, presentation for press and investment analysts, Supporting Paper on airport and airline incentives and submissions from BAA and Stansted airlines on public interest issues (BAA consultation, BAA consultation annex, BAA service quality, BAA structure of charges, Stansted airlines). To listen to a recording of the analyst conference please click on the following link: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/webconnect/view To access the recording you will need to enter the conference ID which is T9FTKG.

5 December 2008

• The CAA has published an updated note containing information on the economic regulation of Gatwick Airport.

3 December 2008

• The CAA has published proposals for the specification of capex triggers at Gatwick Airport. It has also published submissions on the specification of triggers by the Gatwick Airport Joint Steering Group and easyJet.

2 December 2008

• ERG has published the Draft ERG Business Plan 2009/10 - 2013/14.

24 November 2008

• ERG has published a short report "Enhancing social networks across Europe - Air passengers visiting friends and relatives", which summarises the preliminary findings of its research into those passengers who fly to and from the UK with the purpose of Visiting Friends and Relatives.  To see the report click here.

19 November 2008

• On 28 October 2008 the CAA published letters it had written to Heathrow and Gatwick airports about service quality. The replies to the letters from Heathrow and Gatwick are now available. (Heathrow service quality letter, Gatwick service quality letter)

11 November 2008

• The CAA has published its response to the Department for Transport's September 2008 request for views on its review of the economic regulation of airports.

10 November 2008

• ERG has published a report, Connecting passengers at UK airports, which sets out the findings of its research into those passengers who use UK airports solely to transfer from one flight to another.  To see the report click here.

4 November 2008

• The CAA has published the Competition Commission's report on the price controls for Stansted Airport for 2009 to 2014.

31 October 2008

• The CAA has published its initial consultation document for the NATS (En Route) plc price control review for Control Period 3.

28 October 2008

• The CAA has published a service quality report on Heathrow and Gatwick airports. (Both the main report and an annex with more detailed information are available.) The CAA written to Heathrow and Gatwick airports about service quality (Heathrow letter, Gatwick letter).

21 October 2008

• The CAA has published proposals for the specification of capex triggers for Heathrow airport.

25 September 2008

• The CAA has published its response to the the Competition Commission's provisional findings of its review of BAA's UK airports.

11 September 2008

• The CAA has published a note correcting an error in the penalty for a HET capital investment trigger in its March 2008 Heathrow and Gatwick price control decision.

8 August 2008

• Having taken into account responses to a consultation published in March, the CAA has amended its policy, procedures and guidelines in order to introduce Scarce Capacity Allocation Certificates, which will now govern the way that scarce traffic rights are distributed among eligible Community air carriers on routes to points outside the European single market.  For for information click here.

5 August 2008

• The CAA has published its response to the call for evidence for the Government's review of the economic regulation of airports.

4 July 2008

• The CAA has published a consultation document on the enforcement and monitoring of the NATS (En Route) plc licence. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 3 October 2008.

26 June 2008

• On 30 May 2008, the Competition Commission published an Issues Statement for the Stansted price control review. The CAA 's response to the Issue Statement is now available.

4 June 2008

• The CAA has published a supporting paper to its price control reference of Stansted Airport to the Competition Commission. The paper is on the CAA's views on evidence submitted to the Department for Transport's de-designation review. Non-confidential versions of the responses to the Department's consultation are also available.

23 May 2008

• The CAA has published its response to the Competition Commission's Emerging Thinking in its market investigation of BAA Ltd. 

7 May 2008

• Additional supporting papers to the reference of Stansted Airport to the Competition Commission - on BAA's performance on capital investment project management and capital efficiency at Stansted during Q4, and advice on BAA's capital investment plans - are now available.

29 April 2008

• The CAA has referred Stansted Airport to the Competition Commission as part of its review of the price controls at the airport. The following documents are available: Price control review: CAA reference to the Competition Commission for Stansted Airport.  Supporting papers to Stansted price control reference.  Press briefing.  Press Release.

25 April 2008

• On Tuesday 29 April, as part of its review of the price control conditions on the airport, the CAA will be referring Stansted Airport to the Competition Commission, as required by law.

24 April 2008

• On 24 April 2008, the CAA submitted its response to the Treasury's consultation on Aviation Duty. 

19 March 2008

• Non-confidential responses to CAA consultation document on the framework and options for the price control review of Stansted Airport.  

17 March 2008

• A CAA submission to the Competition Commission's ongoing market inquiry into BAA's airports in the South East of England and Scotland has been published today. The CAA argues that there is a clear case for regulatory reform, but says that airport investments and service quality improvements will still need to be paid for. To read the submission please click here.

11 March 2008

• The CAA has published its decision on the price controls for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. from 2008 to 2013. To read the decision, please click here. To read the press and analyst briefing please click here. For a recording of the analyst conference please click on the following link: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/webconnect/view  To access the recording you will need to enter the recording ID, which is GSTPC3.  To read a Supporting Paper on the cost of capital from Europe Economics please click here.

10 March 2008

• On 27 January  2008, the CAA published transcripts of the oral hearings held for the Heathrow and Gatwick airport price control reviews. At the time the transcripts of the sessions with British Airways and the Heathrow AOC were not available. The transcripts of these sessions are now available and are included in the transcripts available in the following links: 28 January, 28 January (closed session with bmi), 29 January.

6 March 2008

• On Tuesday 11 March 2008, the CAA will be publishing its decision for the price controls at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the five years starting 1 April 2008.

3 March 2008

• The CAA has published a Consultation Document seeking views on the CAA’s proposed implementation of the Civil Aviation (Allocation of Scarce Capacity) Regulations 2007, which now govern the way that traffic rights are distributed among eligible Community air carriers on routes to points outside the European single market.

• On 27 February 2008, the CAA published transcripts of the oral hearings for the Heathrow and Gatwick airport price control reviews. easyJet has asked that a letter that addresses some points put to the airline at the hearings can also be placed on the CAA website. To read the letter please click here.

28 February 2008

• Further to the point raised at the Stansted Price Control seminar enquiring whether the Department for Transport had made any further information available in respect of the Secretary of State's decision to retain the designation status of Stansted Airport, the CAA notes that the Department has placed additional information on its website.

27 February 2008

• On 28 and 29 January 2008, the CAA held oral hearings as part of the price control reviews of Heathrow and Gatwick airports. To read the transcripts of the hearings please click on the following links - 28 January, 28 January (closed session with bmi), 29 January).  (Some confidential material has been excised from the transcripts, and the transcripts of the sessions with British Airways and Heathrow AOC are not yet available.)

12 February 2008

• The CAA has responded to questions raised by LACC Stansted in respect of the CAA's consultation on the framework and options for the economic regulation of Stansted Airport. To read the response please click here.

7 February 2008

• On 6 February 2008, the CAA held a seminar for those in the aviation industry on options for the future economic regulation of Stansted Airport.. To view the presentation please click here.

31 January 2008

• On 11 January 2008, the CAA wrote to airports, airline representative bodies and other stakeholders seeking views and evidence  to help it fulfil its remit to advise the Government on improving the air passenger experience at the UK's leading airports and principally Heathrow and Gatwick.  To read the letters please click here.

25 January 2008

• The CAA has published a consultation document on the framework and options for the price control review of Stansted Airport. To read the document please click here.  To read a 4-page non-technical summary of the document, please click here.

22 January 2008

• On 20 November 2007, the CAA published price control proposals for Heathrow and Gatwick airports for consultation. To read the responses to the consultation please click here.

18 January 2008

• The CAA has issued a statement on the process for the remaining stages of the review of Heathrow and Gatwick price controls. To read the statement please click here.

11 January 2008

• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published a report, Recent Trends in Growth of UK Air Passenger Demand, which sets out an analysis of how growth in different segments of passenger traffic at UK airports has changed in recent years and the likely causes of these changes. This report is available at www.caa.co.uk/recenttrends

11 December 2007

• The CAA has published a proposed Statement of Standards and Rebates for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The Statement covers services and facilities provided to passengers and airlines at the airports. To read the Statement please click here.

4 December 2007

• On 3 December 2007, the CAA held a seminar for those in the aviation industry on its price control proposals for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. To view the presentation at the seminar please click here.

29 November 2007

• The CAA has published two supporting papers to its Heathrow and Gatwick Airports price control proposals of 20 November 2007: these are (respectively) a review of Heathrow and Gatwick Airport capital investment plans for Q5.

20 November 2007

• The CAA has published its price control proposals for Heathrow and Gatwick airports for consultation today. Written responses to the proposals should be received by 21 January 2008. To read the proposals please click on the following (main document, Executive Summary, 4-page 'In Focus' briefing, presentation for press and analysts).  To listen to a recording of the conference call with analysts please click here.

15 November 2007

• The CAA has published today a study entitled Air Services at UK Regional Airports that describes the latest developments in regional air services.  This updates an earlier study on this subject that the CAA published in February 2005. 
  • Air Services at UK Regional Airports (CAP 775) is available here
  • The 2005 study, UK Regional Air Services (CAP 754), is available here

13 November 2007

• On Tuesday 20 November 2007, the CAA plans to publish its firm proposals for the price controls at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the five years starting 1 April 2008. Following this, the CAA intends to hold an industry seminar on Monday 3 December 2007, at CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2, starting at 14.00. At the seminar, the CAA will describe and explain its proposals and answer questions on them.  All parties will be able to submit written evidence to the CAA during a two-month consultation period on the CAA's proposals, which will run to 21 January 2008. There will also be an opportunity for those with most direct interest to make any further representations at oral hearings, which the CAA plans to convene on 28 and 29 January 2008. The CAA's final decision on the price controls will be published by March 2008.

3 October 2007

• The CAA has published the Competition Commission's report on the recent inquiry by the Commission into the price controls for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. To read the report please click here.

16 August 2007

• On 31 July, the CAA published a report on long haul passenger operations to and from the UK.  It highlights the main characteristics of long haul routes, passengers and operations, and looks at the impact of possible future developments in long haul travel.  A link to the report is available here.

25 July 2007

• On 31 May 2007 the Secretary of State asked for the CAA's advice on whether Manchester and Stansted airports should be de-designated for price control regulation. To read the CAA's advice please click here. The CAA has also published two 4-page guides to its advice, one for each airport, to read these please click on the following links (Manchester, Stansted). The Department for Transport has launched consultations today on whether these two airports should be de-designated.

20 June 2007

• On 18 June the CAA submitted the attached response to the DfT's consultation on the European Commission's proposal for a Directive on Airport Charges. To read this response please click here.

25 May 2007

• The CAA has today published an update on its review of the existing public interest conditions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. To read the update document please click here.

23 May 2007

• The CAA has today published its second policy statement on the future regulation of Manchester Airport, setting out responses to its earlier consultation, an update on its policy views, and a revised timetable for the price control review. To read the statement please click here.

8 May 2007

• On 14 March 2007, the CAA published an open letter requesting evidence and analysis concerning the economic regulation of Manchester and Stansted airports. To read the responses to the letter please click here.

20 April 2007

• On 31 January 2007, the CAA published a consultation paper on policy issues for the price control review of Manchester Airport. To read the responses to the paper please click here.
• NATS (En Route) plc (NERL) is required by Condition 10 of its Licence to submit to the CAA each year a Service and Investment Plan (SIP). The purpose of the Plan is to provide an annual update of NERL's investment plans and to show whether there have been material changes in those plans. The CAA has approved the form, scope and level of detail of the 2007 SIP and has published a notice setting out the approach it adopted in doing so. To read the note please click here.

13 April 2007

• The CAA will be hosting a briefing seminar to set out how the Economic Regulation Group, on behalf of the Department for Transport, plans to take forward a Contestability Assessment of Air Navigation Service Provision at aerodromes in the UK.  Further details of the seminar (which is at CAA House, Kingsway on Thursday the 17th of May, from 2.00pm –3.30pm) are available in the attached letter to stakeholders here.  If you would like to attend this seminar – which is particularly important to Air Navigation Service (ANS) providers at airports, and those involved (at airports) in the contracting of such service provision – then please contact martin.johnson@caa.co.uk
  

5 April 2007

• In December 2005, the CAA initiated a review of the conditions in NATS En Route plc's air traffic services licence. On 28 February 2007, the CAA published its formal proposals to modify the licence. The CAA has today published its decision on modifications to the licence. To read the decision please click on the following: main document, Appendix 1.

4 April 2007

• On 28 February 2007, the CAA published formal proposals to modify NATS En Route plc's air traffic services licence. The CAA received one response to the proposals, from IATA. To read the response please click here.
• On 27 October 2006, the CAA published a consultation paper on the existing conditions it had imposed on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in response to previous findings by the Competition Commission that the airports have acted against the public interest. To read the responses please click here.

30 March 2007

• Today, the CAA referred Heathrow and Gatwick airports to the Competition Commission as part of its review of the airports' price controls. The references were accompanied by a document setting out the CAA's current recommendations on the price controls. To read the CAA's recommendations please click here, main document, executive summary, supporting paper on utility costs, supporting paper on cost of capital. To read the presentation for the analysts briefing, please click here.

27 March 2007

• The CAA published today a report on NATS' supply chain management systems and practices; NATS' post-implementation reviews of major projects and NATS' project management capability to deliver the CASPIAN programme. This report meets a commitment given by the CAA in its decision of December 2005 on the NATS price controls for 2006-2010. To read the report, including appendices, please click on the following links: report, appendix 1, appendix 2, appendix 3, appendix 4.

23 March 2007

• The CAA today published details of its modelling and analysis of the impact of the EU-US Agreement. Please click here.
• On Friday 30 March, as part of its review of the price control conditions on the airports, the CAA will be referring Heathrow and Gatwick airports to the Competition Commission, as required by law. The references will be accompanied by a document setting out the CAA's recommendations to the Commission on the framework for regulation and indicative proposals for price controls.

14 March 2007

• The CAA has today published an open letter requesting evidence and analysis concerning the economic regulation of Manchester and Stansted airports. To read the letter please click here.

9 March 2007

• On 11 December 2006, the CAA published for consultation a proposal to extend the current price control at Stansted Airport for a further year so that it would expire on 31 March 2009. The CAA's decision is now available, to read the decision please click here.

28 February 2007

• In December 2005, the CAA initiated a review of the conditions in NATS En Route plc's air traffic services licence. After consultation, the CAA is now publishing its formal proposals to modify the licence. Responses to the proposals are due by Friday 30 March 2007. To read the proposals please click on the following (main document, Appendix 2, Appendix 3)
• On 21 December 2006, the CAA published a consultation paper on extending the current price control on Stansted Airport  by an additional year to 31 March 2009. To read the responses to the paper please click here.

21 February 2007

• On 19 February 2007, the CAA held an industry seminar on its consultation on policy issues for the review of the price controls on Manchester Airport. To read the presentation given at the seminar please click here.

14 February 2007

• In May 2006, the CAA published a proposal to remove the limit on the number of suppliers of ground handling services at Gatwick. The CAA has now decided to remove the limit. To read the CAA's decision please click here.

7 February 2007

• On 5 December 2006, the CAA published, for consultation, its initial price control proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.  The responses to the consultation are now available, to view the responses please click here.

5 February 2007

• On 5 December 2006, the CAA published, for consultation, its initial price control proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. It also published a number of supporting papers. At the time only the Executive Summary of supporting paper VII - a review of BAA's revenue and cost allocation process was available. The full report is now available, to read it please click on the following (main report, appendices).

31 January 2007

• The CAA today published its first major statement on the future regulation of Manchester Airport, setting out a number of options for consultation. It highlights that there may be scope for a significant reduction in regulation.  To read the consultation paper please click here. A four-page non-technical summary is also available, please click here.

4 January 2007

• On 1 November 2006, the CAA published a consultation paper on a proposal to suspend temporarily part of the scheme of standards and rebates at Heathrow and Gatwick relating to the time passengers spent in security queues. The CAA's decision on the proposals is now available. To read the decision please click here.

21 December 2006

• The CAA has today published a consultation paper on extending the current price control on Stansted Airport  by an additional year to 31 March 2009. Responses to the consultation should be sent by Thursday 22 February 2007. To read the consultation paper please click here.

20 December 2006

• The CAA has today set out the policy and processes it would expect to follow in handling cases of alleged anti-competitive conduct by airports, under section 41 of the Airports Act 1986. To read the CAA's paper please click here.

18 December 2006

• Today, the CAA held a seminar on its initial proposals for the price controls on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports from April 2006.  To read the CAA's presentation at the seminar please click here.

11 December 2006

• On 1 November 2006, the CAA published for consultation a proposal to suspend temporarily part of the scheme of standards and rebates at Heathrow and Gatwick relating to the time passengers spend queuing in security queues. The responses to that consultation are now available please click here.

5 December 2006

• The CAA has published, for consultation, its initial price control proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. To read the proposals and supporting papers please click here. The presentation from a briefing held for investment analysts today are also available, please click here.

30 November 2006

• The CAA will be publishing, for consultation, its initial price control proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports on Tuesday 5 December 2006.

29 November 2006

• In a speech to the Future of Air Transport conference later today, Dr Harry Bush, Group Director, Economic Regulation, will emphasise the importance of proportionate economic regulation of airports. He will also highlight the importance of investment in the UK airports sector to the aviation industry and to the experience of passengers travelling through UK airports. A News Release with more details is available here.

23 November 2006

• In a speech to the Global Airport Development conference in Rome today Dr Harry Bush, the CAA's Group Director of Economic Regulation, indicated that the CAA was on track to set out in December its initial proposals on the issues involved in setting BAA's price caps for the period 2008-13. He said that, while the CAA's proposals remained to be firmed up, some directions were emerging, and it was timely to give some indication of these in respect of Heathrow and Gatwick. More details can be found in the press notice, which is available here.
  

22 November 2006

• The CAA today published a paper examining the impact of liberalisation of the UK:India aviation bilateral in late 2004 and early 2005. Using the available evidence from a variety of different sources, the paper in turn examines and quantifies, where possible, the impact on consumers, airlines, airports and the wider economy of the increased aviation activity enabled by the recent regulatory reforms. Further details are available here.

20 November 2006

• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced today that it has decided to remove its regulation of long-haul air fares because of greater competition in the airline market. Further details are available here.

15 November 2006

• A report published today by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) examines the impact that no-frills airlines have had on the airline market, on passengers and on society more widely. More information and a link to the report is available here.

2 November 2006

• On 3 August 2006 the CAA published a consultation document which sought views on a CAA proposal to remove the limited fares regulation that still remains. This document is available here. The responses to that consultation are now available here.

1 November 2006

• The CAA has today published for consultation a proposal to suspend temporarily part of the scheme of standards and rebates at Heathrow and Gatwick relating to the time passengers spend queuing in security queues. The scheme rebates a small percentage of airport charges to airlines if certain standards are not met, and the proposed suspension results from the various changes to the security regime imposed by Government following August 10. The CAA is proposing a five months suspension (August to December 2006) at Heathrow and a three month suspension at Gatwick (August to October). The CAA is further proposing that the rebates for the other airline elements in the Standards and Rebates Scheme should be increased so that the total money at risk under the scheme for the year remains the same. The closing date for consultation responses is 29 November 2006. Available here are: the consultation paper, an annex to the paper, BAA's application for the suspension, a letter from Heathrow Airport to the CAA, and a letter from Gatwick Airport to the CAA.

27 October 2006

• The CAA has issued today a consultation paper on the existing conditions it has imposed on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in response to previous findings by the Competition Commission that the airports have acted against the public interest. The consultation is on whether the conditions should remain, be amended or can be removed.  Responses to the consultation should be sent to the address in the document by Tuesday 2 January 2007. The document is available here.

26 October 2006

• The CAA today published a discussion paper examining the rules governing ownership and control of airlines. In particular, it examines the impact of these on airlines, consumers and employees and considers the situation were they to be removed, especially how safety regulation might be affected. It concludes that there are likely to be substantial benefits from ownership and control liberalisation and sets out a pathway for reform, which if followed, should lead to safer, more efficient and cheaper international aviation.  The report is available here.  If you wish to send comments on any aspect of the document, please direct them to Dave Miller (dave.miller@caa.co.uk).

20 October 2006

• The CAA will be publishing, for consultation, its initial price control proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in early December 2006.  As it mentioned when it set out the process it would follow for the price reviews, the CAA will be holding an industry seminar after publication of its consultation document.  The seminar will provide an opportunity for the CAA to describe and explain its proposals and to answer questions from the industry on them.  The seminar will be held on Monday 18 December 2006, starting at 10.00 and is expected to finish by 13.00.  The seminar will be held at CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6TE, in Conference Rooms 1 and 2 on the ground floor. If you wish to attend the seminar, please could you contact Rod Gander, either by e-mail (rod.gander@caa.co.uk) or by telephone (020 7453 6225). In addition to this seminar, the CAA intends to hold briefing for journalists and investment analysts on the day of publication of its initial proposals.

12 October 2006

• On 6 July 2006, the CAA published a consultation paper on its initial views emerging from the review of the conditions in the air transport licence held by NATS (En-Route) plc. The CAA received two responses to its consultation. These are now available (British Airways response, NATS response).

6 October 2006

• On 7 September 2006, the CAA published a paper from NATS that described its assessment process for determining its project management capability for the CASPIAN programme. The CAA is now publishing NATS' report of the results of the assessment. The report is available here.

3 October 2006

• On 20 July 2006, the CAA wrote to airport and airline representatives at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports with proposed revisions to the airports review timetable. The CAA is now issuing a statement with the revised timetable. The statement is available here.

13 September 2006

• On 20 July 2006. the CAA wrote to airport and airline representatives at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports with proposed revisions to the airports review timetable. It requested responses to the proposed revised timetable by 11 September 2006. The full set of responses received to date is now available here.

7 September 2006

• In its decision on NATS En Route plc's price controls for CP2 (2006-2010) published in December 2005 the CAA described the various workstreams that were to be pursued over the course of CP2, largely led by NATS. This work has been progressing and the CAA is publishing for information:
  • an Executive Summary of NATS' audit report on its Supply Chain Management processes (available here);
  • a paper from NATS that describes its assessment process for determining its project management capability for the CASPIAN programme (available here); and
  • a paper from NATS that describes how it will be conducting post-project implementation reviews (termed Benefits Delivery Phase Reviews) for a sample of projects (available here).

3 August 2006

• The CAA has published a consultation document which seeks views on a CAA proposal to remove the limited fares regulation that still remains. Click here for more information.

28 July 2006

• In response to the policy update document which the CAA published on 15 May 2006 as part of its review of the price controls on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, British Airways commissioned a study into the cost of capital for BAA.  The study is available here

24 July 2006

• On 1 March 2006, the CAA published the latest Statement of Standards and Rebates setting out schemes by which BAA is required to pay rebates on a monthly basis to users where certain service quality standards are not met at Heathrow and Gatwick. Gatwick Airport Limited and Gatwick airlines have jointly requested that the measurement of pier service at the airport should contain exclusions when investment or refurbishment is taking place. The CAA has issued a consultation paper, which  is available here.

20 July 2006

• The CAA has written today to airline and airport representatives at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports with proposed revisions to the airports review timetable. Any comments on the proposed revised timetable should be sent to airportsreview@caa.co.uk by 11 September 2006. In the same letter, the CAA has said that it would welcome further dialogue between airport operators and airlines over the next ten weeks to broaden the range of evidence on which the CAA could base its initial price control proposals later this year. The letter is available here.

12 July 2006

• The CAA has commissioned a number of consultancy studies as part of its  price control review of BAA's designated airports. The Terms of Reference for the studies are available here.
• On 15 May 2006, the CAA published a document on its policy  for the price control review for BAA's designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted).  In the document, the CAA said it would be happy to receive any comments on the matters discussed, and that any responses would be placed on its website. David Starkie has responded to the document, and his response is available here.

6 July 2006

• On 1 December 2005, the CAA initiated a review of the conditions in NATS En Route plc's air traffic service licence. The CAA is now seeking comments on its initial views emerging from the review.  The CAA's consultation paper is available here in pdf format (main document, appendix 2, appendix 3).

3 July 2006

• The CAA has issued the following statement on its timetable for the current review of price controls for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The statement is available here.
• On 15 May 2006, the CAA published a document on its policy  for the price control review for BAA's designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted).  In the document, the CAA said it would be happy to receive any comments on the matters discussed, and that any responses would be placed on its website. LACC Stansted has responded to the document, and its response is available here.

27 June 2006

• On 20 December 2005 the CAA published a consultation paper on policy for its reviews of the price controls on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. On 30 March 2006, it published responses to that consultation paper (including from BAA). Separate responses from BAA on chapter 7 of the CAA's consultation paper (Competition and regulation within airports) and chapter 9 (The cost of capital and regulatory finance) are now also available on the CAA's website. All the responses are available here.

9 June 2006

• On 15 May 2006, the CAA published a document on its policy  for the price control review for BAA's designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted).  In the document, the CAA said it would be happy to receive any comments on the matters discussed, and that any responses would be placed on its website. BAA has responded to the document, and its response is available here.

8 June 2006

• On 21 April 2006, the CAA consulted on using August RPI rather than September RPI in the price control conditions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The responses to that consultation are now available here. The CAA has considered the responses and has decided that August RPI should be used for the price control conditions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. A copy of the CAA's decision is available here.

26 May 2006

• In 1998 the CAA made a determination under the Airports (Groundhandling) Regulations 1997 to limit to four the number of suppliers of ground handling services at Gatwick Airport. (The CAA subsequently modified the determination to limit the number of suppliers of airside bussing services to two.) Gatwick Airport has now applied to the CAA to have both of these limits removed, and, having considered the application, the CAA is proposing to remove them. Any objection to or representation on the proposal should be sent to the CAA by Tuesday 27 June and copied to BAA. The CAA's proposal and the Airport's application are available here (CAA's proposal, airport's application).
• The CAA has issued a note of corrections and further clarification to the Revised Statement of Rebates for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. These refer to the aerodrome congestion term.  The note is available here.

15 May 2006

• The CAA today published the next policy document in the price control review for BAA's designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted), which is leading towards new price controls being set in early 2008 for the five years starting April 2008. This document summarises responses to the CAA's first major consultation on the review, launched in December 2005, and provides an update on the CAA's policy thinking which will shape its forthcoming initial price control proposals, to be issued in September 2006. The document also sets out the CAA's views on the implications for the future financing of airports, in the context of the proposed acquisition of BAA plc. The document is available here.

3 May 2006

• The CAA published a briefing sheet on slot reform in late April providing stakeholders with a concise summary of the CAA's views on the issue. The paper sets out the CAA's views on future reform of the European Regulations covering slot allocation and transfers, and explains why such changes are important to making the best use of Europe's busiest airports. The report is available here.

21 April 2006

• BAA, with the support of the Airline Consultative Committees at Heathrow and Gatwick, has proposed that in calculating the price caps on airport charges at those airports, August RPI should be used rather than September RPI. Such a change, if confirmed, would require a minor technical modification to the price control conditions for Heathrow and Gatwick set by the CAA in February 2003. The CAA has issued a consultation paper on the proposal, requesting comments by Friday 2 June 2006. (consultation paper)

6 April 2006

• The CAA has set our how it intends to proceed should it receive complaints of anti-competitive conduct by NATS in a policy document available here.  This follows an earlier publication of a consultation document, prompted by the concerns raised that NATS' businesses might not be undertakings for the purpose of competition law.

31 March 2006

• In July 2005, the CAA consulted on the regulatory treatment of preliminary expenditure on the development of new runway capacity at Stansted airport.  Today the CAA has published a document stating that it will not consult further at this stage. The treatment of preliminary expenditure will be a matter for the CAA to decide in concluding its price control review, having taken into account the responses of interested parties and having regard to the recommendations of the Competition Commission. New price controls from April 2008 to March 2013 for BAA's London airports are due to be set in early 2008. The document is available here.
• The CAA is reviewing the continuing need for, and the effectiveness of, the existing conditions in NERL's air traffic services licence. On 17 February 2006, it published a response to its review from NERL, and asked for comments on the response. It received one response commenting on NERL's submission, from British Airways, this response is now available here.
• On 16 December 2005, the CAA published a consultation paper on how it should handle cases of alleged anti-competitive conduct by airports.  The responses to that consultation are now available here.

30 March 2006

• On 20 December 2005 the CAA published a consultation paper on its policy for the reviews of the price controls at BAA's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, and at Manchester Airport. The responses to that consultation are available here.

1 March 2006

• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today published a report recommending a flexible approach to the secondary trading of airport slots.  It examines the potential concern that secondary trading of slots could lead to anti-competitive behaviour.  It recommends that these concerns be met by small modifications to the design of the secondary trading market combined with case-by-case solutions to deal with specific competition problems at an airport level.  A copy of this report is available here.
• On 30 November 2005, the CAA published a consultation document on revisions to the scheme of standards and rebates covering the quality of service to airlines and passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The CAA's decision on revisions to the scheme is now available here (decision, annex 1).

24 February 2006

• Today the CAA issued a statement in connection with a possible offer for BAA plc. The statement can be downloaded here (CAA statement).

17 February 2006

• On 1 December 2005, the CAA published a notice inviting initial comments on the continuing need for, and the effectiveness of, the existing conditions in NERL's air traffic services licence. The CAA asked for comments by 10 February 2006, it received comments from NERL. The CAA is asking for comments on NERL's submission by Friday 17 March. A note of the process the CAA is using for the review and NATS submission are available here (CAA's process, NERL's submission).

6 February 2006

• On 1 December the CAA published its decision on the price controls on NATS' Eurocontrol and Oceanic businesses. A descriptive summary of the resulting price control conditions in NERL's Licence is available here.

3 February 2006

• On 30 November 2005, the CAA published a review of the scheme of Standards and Rebates covering the quality of service to airlines and passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick. The responses to that consultation are now available here.

2 February 2006

• In response to a request from BAA (which followed from the seminar held on 16 January 2006 on the airport price control reviews), the CAA has produced a two hour drive-time isochrone for Heathrow Airport. The isochrone is available, in pdf format, here.

30 January 2006

• On 16 January 2006, the CAA held a seminar to present its policy for the forthcoming reviews of airport price controls at BAA's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, and at Manchester Airport. A note of the question and answer at the seminar is now available, in pdf format, here.

16 January 2006

• The CAA held a seminar today to present its policy for the forthcoming reviews of airport price controls at BAA's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, and at Manchester Airport. The slides used at the seminar are available, in pdf format, here.

10 January 2006

• On 24 October 2005, the CAA published a paper setting out the process it was proposing to adopt for the next reviews of the BAA designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) and Manchester Airport. The CAA received two responses to the paper which are available here.