Airports operator BAA has decided to sell Stansted airport, ending a long-running legal dispute.
BAA’s announcement ends a dispute over a 2009 Competition Commission ruling, in which it was told to sell the Essex site, owing to the lack of competition between London’s airports.
The firm said: “Having carefully considered the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling, BAA has decided not to appeal to the Supreme Court and is now proceeding with the sale of Stansted airport. We still believe that the Competition Commission ruling fails to recognise that Stansted and Heathrow serve different markets.”
The sale of Stansted, which is the UK’s fourth-busiest airport, will leave BAA with four sites: Heathrow, Southampton, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Parties interested in the asset include Manchester Airports group, which is understood to be preparing a £1bn bid.
No selling agent has been appointed yet.
Joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
