Another example of G Brown's inability to deal with real business actuality rather than academic theory ie incompetent outcomes in areas of key national interest. Just as with massive taxes delivering near zero health service improvements; destruction of UK pensions, etc
How long can it go on?

English Democrat , whitehaven, long suffering England

Do you know that exactly the same arguments for the state of Heathrow can be advanced for the lack of investment and shortage of capacity on our railways? Perhaps we are just unable as a country to plan ahead.
Or is it that the unspeakable is true and that we are grossly over-populated and should actively set out to reduce our population to a more manageable 25/30 million? Some of us have anticipated this for decades but it is now probably too late to prevent the final collapse of our infrastructure and the final despoiling of our erstwhile beautiful country. I am a 72 year-old pessimist!

BENBOW, Andover,

Hear hear Charlie - funny that we all could see it would happen this way, but apparently not those in higher places, who allowed it to happen. Here in the U.S. we would never allow such an important piece of infrastructure to fall into foreign hands.

Bill Atkins, Rehoboth Beach, USA

agree, we have no-one but ourselves to blame. Our major airport should not be allowed to be foreign owned.

sheila graham, guangzhou, china

To Charlie, Isle of Man,
The problems with London's airports date back to well before Ferrovial's acquisition. Whilst Ferrovial's lower capital expenditure is to be deplored, the issue has nothing to do with 'foreign investors' and everything to do with the regulation of this monopoly.

David, London, UK

"The capital expenditure figures don’t take account, for example, of the extra £20 million we have put into security to reduce queues.”

The person who wrote or said this could be in high demand as a comedy writer for TV

Minnie Ovens, LA, CA, USA

As a regular international traveller from South Africa I make every effort to avoid Heathrow like the plague. To echo Ken Livingstone Heathrow is shameful. It is shoddy, slow and dirty. I have found that to avoid all the hassle it is better to fly to Zurich or Frankfurt, which are highly efficient airports, and then fly into London City Airport where the staff and immigration officials just seem to be more friendly and more efficient and the airport is far more congenial. The perception is that since the Spanish Company took control the situation has deteriorated, notwithstanding the extra security requirements. It is significant that capital expenditure has declined while income has increased.

Gavin Morley, Durban, South Africa

The answer is simple: take BAA back into public ownership. Heathrow is, by definition, of major strategic importance. The Spanish company are unwilling to treat it as such -- why should they have the strategic interests of the UK a heart? -- and invest in the infrastructure so we should renationalise BAA and its strategic concerns. It's capitalistic zeal gone mad, just like the railways.

Michael Anthony, Birmingham, UK

Like any british company that operates in other countries, Ferrovial is looking for profits. Heathrow is in poor conditions because BAA under British administration let it get this way. Or do you think that Heathrow became that way in only one year? We should put pressure on Ferrovial, yes, but is not realy their fault.

Fabio C, London, UK

Seems as if it was a great decision after all for BAA's previous shareholders to agree to sell out to Ferovial!

Mark, London, UK