A SPANISH-OWNED company running many of the UK's main airports has been blasted by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman.

The Labour MP said that BAA had no British shareholders and therefore "little accountability" for its actions.

And he claimed that its "monopoly" over airports like Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick was having disastrous consequences for the travelling public.

Mr Sheerman was angered by BAA's response to passengers stranded at airports across the UK in the days before Christmas when thick, freezing fog led to hundreds of flight cancellations.

The MP said nothing could be done about the weather, but protested at "the incompetent way in which BAA handled many of our constituents - putting them in freezing tents at sub-zero temperatures".

He also remarked on "the incompetence of losing their luggage for days, if not weeks".

Speaking in a Commons debate, Mr Sheerman said: "This is a company that now has no shareholders.

"There is very little accountability to anyone and they have a monopoly on so many airports they bring discredit to the travelling public and the travel sector."

Thousands of passengers had to endure chaos when thick, freezing fog led to hundreds of flights being cancelled at Heathrow, Gatwick, and other airports.

BAA provided stranded passengers with heated marquees, blankets and ponchos, sleeping mats, children's packs and food and drink.

BAA, formerly the British Airports Authority and now owned by Spanish firm Ferrovial, was privatised by Margaret Thatcher in 1987.

It now handles 90% of flights in the south-east of England and 80% in Scotland.

It owns airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The Office of Fair Trading is considering referring BAA to the Competition Commission, potentially forcing a break-up of ownership.

Responding to Mr Sheerman's comments, Commons Leader Jack Straw said: "I think we are all aware of the terrible conditions which were faced by travellers at Heathrow and other airports over the Christmas period."

He promised to alert Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to MPs' concerns.