BAA will place London Stansted Airport up for sale, after dropping its opposition to the competition watchdog’s expected ruling.
The Ferrovial-owned operator will sell the regional aviation hub after the Competition Commission ruling, due in March, which is widely predicted to break up the group’s dominance in the UK airport market.
Previously adverse to suggestions of dismantling its south-east monopoly, the consortium is now believed to welcome the cash that will be generated by the sale and is in a strong position following the government’s decision to allow the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.
One airline executive told The Times: “There was no point in [BAA] going on fighting the Competition Commission.
It has won on the bigger point of expanding Heathrow.” BAA presently owns and operates seven airports in the UK, including London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport and Southampton Airport.
