Gatwick Airport has called on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to promote a truly competitive market among airports in the south-east.

This follows a report by the Competition Commission and market investigations into the break-up of the BAA monopoly. 

It claims the CAA should be removing barriers to growth, better services and choice, rather than imposing more of them.

A Gatwick official said that economic regulation is bad for passengers, airlines and the airport as it adds significant cost, which is passed onto consumers in the form of higher charges.

The organisation is pleased the CAA would like to implement its 'contracts and commitments framework', which offers clear guidelines to airlines on the quality of airport facilities, passenger service levels, consultation and price.

However, it is concerned by the "significant layers" of additional conditions the CAA wants to impose.

"The CAA must not hold us back through imposing heavy-handed regulation, red tape in the form of a licence and an inflexible price control," commented Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport chief executive.