London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – British Transportation Secretary Philip Hammod threatened over the weekend to fine BAA, the operator of Heathrow Airport, for the winter travel chaos that disrupted travel plans of thousands of British air passengers.

Hammod seeks more powers for air regulators because, under present rules, the Civil Aviation Authority could not punish the operators of Britain’s busiest airport beyond fines. He proposed an economic sanction for service failure.

Present rules allow the CAA to slap BAA a penalty of 7 percent of airport charges, which is equivalent to $94.5 million (GBP 63 million).

BAA does not have enough snow plows to clear ice and snow from the tarmac, so BAA Chief Executive Collin Matthews said he would forego his usual bonus this year so the money could be used by the company to add to the $15 million (GBP 10 million) allocated to purchase in 2011 new snow clearing equipment.

The travel chaos caused the governement to form a panel of international airport executives to conduct an investigation. BAA’s Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, committed to act on the recommendations, including investing more into preparing for snow.

Rudd has threatened to resign if Ferrovial, which owners 56 percent of BAA, failed to support him in implementing the recommendations that the investigation body required.

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