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From Times Online

August 20, 2008

Ryanair to run Stansted? What a great idea

If BAA is forced to sell three airports, it could put a smile back on the face of today's miserable travellers

Steve Keenan

British airports I have been to this year and had no bother with - Inverness and Luton.

British airports I have been to this year and thought: "Keep your head down, stay calm and you can get through this" - Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow.

I don't enjoy airports any more. That is, enjoy as in being part of the whole travel thing, the celebratory drink in the bar before boarding and expectation of a good film and dinner.

Now I dread the visit, like the dentist. There is every chance of long shuffling queues at check-in, passport control and immigration.

You can guarantee a series of pompous officials imbued with self-importance and the moral authority to order you to half-strip, take that drink out, check that bag in and wipe that smile off.

There will be a sign pointing out the 20 minute walk to the gate, and a warning to be at the gate 30 minutes before departure - and remember, if anything goes wrong, it will be ALL YOUR FAULT.

It leaves a sour taste at a time when it should be fun. So thank you Luton and Inverness for keeping it sweet and employing staff who are helpful and smile (apart from the jobsworth left luggage bloke at Luton).

Which is why I think it an excellent plan if Stansted and Gatwick are sold by BAA to new owners, who could not possibly make worse the sheer misery that currently pervades these airports.

BAA is not wholly to blame - it still largely makes money out of planes taking off and landing. But it doesn't set aviation policy - that would be the government, which has spectacularly failed to bite the bullet on runway expansion in the south-east for 20 years.

You can add any number of coffee bars and juice bars, but a lack of political will and a Nimby-ism attitude that opposes and suffocates any airport expansion plan has made it impossible for BAA to keep up to speed.

Since 2001, more stringent security and self-important staff have become fixtures: construction works and baggage delays the norm. But it's not true of all airports.

Independently owned airports like Luton or London City thrive because they can plan more efficiently. They can't build runways willy-nilly, but they can improve infrastructure, road and rail links.

They can also react more quickly to events, such as the liquid ban introduced last year which caused absolute chaos at BAA airports when the operator failed to recruit and train more staff quickly.

Which is one reason why British Airways is ramping up its presence at London City airport, adding Dublin and a New York business-only service. Conversely, the airport this summer invested in departure lounge extensions and new aircraft parking stands. Build, and they will come.

It will be very interesting to see who buys the airports which will be offloaded by BAA. Manchester wants to puts its experience into practise at Gatwick, and Ryanair is eyeing up Stansted - both excellent ideas.

I'm particularly intrigued by the idea of Ryanair running an airport - it's an incredibly lean machine of an airline, and could put its hard-won knowledge of the competitive aviation world into practise admirably.

In its ideal world, Ryanair would have us checking in at home, dropping off any bags ourselves and using technology to pass through security.

We would then pay Ryanair for a sandwich, drink, the priviledge of sitting down and catching the shuttle to the gate - where we would dutifully gather, sober and with one small bag. And it would work.

But can it make Stansted enjoyable? Oh no, I think that era is long gone, but bearable will do.

It it's ideal world you'd pay to go through the doors, use the escalators, lifts, seats, toilets, standing in queues (pay more for a faster moving queue)...

They'll also require you to be at the airport by a specific time otherwise you don't fly

And of course no refunds

alan, edinburgh, uk

Heaven help us if Ryanair ran an airport!! The same customer can take it or leave it attitude would be the very end

colin brewer, kidderminster,

Best airport experience so far - London City Airport, 15min checkin, why would you use any other? To go to Geneva , Paris or Amsterdam or any Northern Europe destination, I consider this to be a cheaper way to fly than paying cab or parking to Stansted having to hang around and spend money etc. etc.

Matt Jeary, London, UK

Totally agree. I live in Brussels and now avoid, when going long-haul, going through LHR at any cost.
T5 is hopleless. OK building if you like the "mall in a Wal-Mart warehouse" style. But, oh, the staff! Escapees from a 1970s nationalised organisation.
Apply all of above to St Pancras/Eurostar.

Phil, Brussels,

You obviously haven't flown with Ryanair or dealt with their mythical Customer Care department if you think an airport run by them will have staff who are "actually helpful and smile".

I cannot think of any worse company for customer service than Ryanair, if they ran the airport then God help us

G Varma, Bristol, UK

One of the few arguments that could be put forward in defence of BAA is the threat of Ryanair running an airport.

Alan, Chesterfield, UK

that is very short sighted. a ryanair flight is not the most pleasant experience, with ryanair proudly declaring that all they want to do once they have you trapped in the plane is 'sell sell sell'. Hidden costs and false advertising are part of their corporate culture - a 99p flight costs 54 pounds

Iain, London, UK

Finally, for officious 'jobsworths' you can't beat the US immigration people, not a smile between them. Compare that with the Canadian counterparts who are smart and personable.

peter rodger, Oxford,

Populist bunk, SK! I fly every week to Europe and every 2 months to US/Asia. Typically, the experience is acceptable-v. good at most UK airports; excellent @ Heathrow T5. Contrast that to the pitiful facilities and services at NYK, EWR, CDG, FRA, BRU .....

John, London, UK

Sorry, absolute final comment. Anyone who runs an airport should put customer care way ahead of profit, and patently the suggestion of Ryanair taking over anywhere would be the complete opposite. Well done to Ryanair for opening up so many accessible areas, but they should remember the customer.

peter rodger, Oxford,

Which country do you live in! Luton is a cataclismic failure of an airport. Were Ryan air to run things you would have 1 check in desk for all flights - passengers queuing cost nothing, more staff do. I don't want an airline where wings are extra running an airport.

andy, London, UK

ryanair stansted = more expensive coffee (though advertised at 1p per cup), charges to use the toilet, 5 pounds to go through security slow or 25 to go through fast, stairs free but charges for lifts and escalators.... ryanair is the master of hidden costs. not sure it would be a better experience!

Iain Hird, Dubai, UAE

Please not Ryanair. Whilst they do have a good business model they're not customer friendly at all, especially if you have children or are disabled. Let the London city airport operator do it instead. Now That's a quality service.

Alan Jefferies, Gillingham, Kent, UK

BAA should be run out of town completely .

I fly from Luton every Friday and return to the of Heathrow on Mondays.

Why make it difficult to enter Britain , most would leave if they could !

james baillie, Hamburg, Germany

"I'm particularly intrigued by the idea of Ryanair running an airport "

I would be very intrigued too Mr Keenan. No doubt they would introduce dual charges in the toilets (made of yellow plastic)- 2 pounds for a number one and a fiver for a number two.

Patrick, London, UK

Neil Barker beat me to it.

Also Ryanair running an airport is a stupid idea. Like it's not going to give itself preferential treatment?

Moan about the government but who do you think sorted out the transport for City airport? Not the airport itself!

Stop your reflexive moaning, its not clever.

Jonathan U, London, UK

Use a spell checker.
Learn about punctuation.

Neil Barker, Burton on Trent, UK