By CHRIS BLACKHURST NOTHING excites more anger among the business community than the state of Heathrow. It's one subject that pretty much everyone is agreed upon: the airport is awful. When BAA was taken over by Ferrovial of Spain, I feared the worst.

By Peter Woodman Under-fire airport operator BAA yesterday appointed its first chief operating officer who will "put passengers' interests first". The new post has gone to Stephen Baxter, who is currently divisional managing director for BAA Scotland.

Under-fire airport operator BAA yesterday announced further new appointments which will see two high-profile figures joining the board. Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens becomes a non-executive director, while ex-Boots boss Sir Nigel Rudd is the new non-executive chairman.

By James Moore The embattled airports operator BAA yesterday drafted in City grandee Sir Nigel Rudd as chairman as it attempts to put a lid on a torrent of criticism over the state of its airports.

EMBATTLED airport operator BAA has lost two more executives - head of media relations Mark Mann and corporate affairs director Duncan Bonfield. The group's handling of Heathrow airport and treatment of passengers has been heavily criticised.