Airlines and passenger groups have given BAA, which owns Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, a resounding vote of no-confidence by calling for the company’s break-up. The users of Britain’s busiest airports have unanimously called on the competition regulator to end BAA’s stranglehold on airports in the South East of England.

The Competition Commission announced yesterday that it will investigate whether BAA’s monopoly of London’s airports is bad for passengers.

It is understood that BAA was one of the only parties to recommend to the Commission that its ownership of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted is good for passengers. Airlines and passenger groups argue that BAA’s monopoly means it is able to put profits ahead of investing in new facilities.

The quality of service received by passengers and airlines at all of BAA’s airports will come under scrutiny.

Details on the inquiry come amid mounting criticism of Heathrow. The country’s busiest airport has been criticised for delays and poor service.

Kitty Ussher, the City minister, recently said that “Heathrow hassle” could threaten London’s position as a financial centre.

Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, yesterday said: “Common ownership is the root cause of the failure to expand Heathrow’s runway capacity.” British Airways is understood to favour the Commission, forcing BAA to sell Stansted.

Virgin Atlantic and bmi are both thought to want Gatwick split from BAA. Sir Michael Bishop, bmi’s chairman, said: “I think there is a very strong case when and if the government pursues Terminal 6 that it, and its new runway, are run separately.”

Virgin and BA are proposing that individual terminals be operated by different companies. BAA would then become responsible for managing the overall site.

Dubai Aerospace, which is trying to buy Auckland airport, is believed to be preparing a bid for Gatwick.

BAA argues that joined-up ownership puts it in a better place to deliver more capacity, allowing it to use its balance sheet to invest more efficiently.

Stephen Nelson, the chief executive of BAA, said today: “What London airports do not need are structural changes that will seriously delay the delivery of the investment that is urgently needed to improve the passenger experience and increase capacity.”

He said that BAA has “the will and the ability to make the investment London airports need”. However, he said that the group in turn required political support for its plans.

The Competition Commission said its investigation into service levels would extend to terminals, runways, ancillary facilities and security.

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