The UK’s Office of Fair Trading on Tuesday said it proposed to refer BAA, the country’s dominant airports operator, to the Competition Commission, saying it had found evidence of “poor customer satisfaction” and expressing concerns about BAA’s investment plans, particularly in south-east England.

John Fingleton, OFT chief executive, said in a statement: “There is evidence of poor quality and high charges – BAA’s investment plans, which are of great importance to the UK, have raised significant concerns among its customers. These are signs of a market not working well for consumers and we believe that a full inquiry into BAA’s structure is justified.’