BAA name to be dropped and its airports to operate under stand-alone brand
BAA is to drop its name, with its airports across the UK set to operate under their own brands.
The decision to drop the BAA brand has been explained as being due to the organisation no longer seeing itself as a group, meaning that its airports Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Southampton and Standstead will operate under their stand-alone brands.
Colin Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow, said: "We are a different company today from when BAA was formed. Over the last few years we have sold our stakes in Gatwick, Edinburgh, Budapest and Naples airports and we are in the process of selling Stansted Airport. The BAA name no longer fits. We do not represent all British airports; we are not a public authority; and practically speaking the company is no longer a group as Heathrow will account for more than 95% of the business."
"Dropping the BAA name marks a symbolic break with the company of the past. We want Heathrow's focus to be on its customers, to continue to improve its operational performance and to carry on investing billions of pounds in new passenger facilities. This summer, the Olympics and Paralympics showed the UK and Heathrow at their best, delivering a welcome of which the UK could be proud. Now we have to build on that welcome still further, providing a better experience to our customers every single day."