The Summer of Leave

There's an interesting article in the Daily Telegraph today about check in times on some flights being longer than the flights themselves. The principal victim of this attack on the air travel industry is none too surprisingly the BAA. They've even been accused of cashing in on airport delays. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, accused BAA of offering "third world facilities at very high prices".

The fact is that because we have so much disposable income our propensity to travel has gone off the scale and it's that, along with the security issues, which are leading to this summer of discontent. People are leaving Britain for the sun in ever increasing numbers - more so given the rubbish weather in Britain.

It's easy to raise examples of security shortages, BAA not doing quite what they said they would and other gripes against the system. But given the circumstances is it surprising? The airlines are on a mission. They want the BAA London monopoly broken up. The Spanish owned company maybe in for a few shocks in that I don't suppose, prior to their purchase, they thought a thing like that could possibly happen.