Experts urge Birmingham Airport to join BAA bidding war
24.08.08
Birmingham Airport has been urged to join the bidding war after BAA was told it will almost certainly have to sell three of its UK airports, the Post reports. BAA is set to be forced to give up Gatwick and Stansted airports as well as one of either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports following the publication of a provisional report by the Competition Commission.
Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which operates Manchester, Bournemouth, East Midlands and Humberside airports, said it could be interested in acquiring ‘one or more’ of BAA’s airports. But experts believe Birmingham Airport should also look at it too.
Dr Pat Hanlon, transport economist at the Business School at the University of Birmingham, told the newspaper: ‘It is an option they should certainly consider as part of a consortium. The acquisition of another airport would constitute a good investment for any firm over the long term in commercial terms. The long term view is rosy in financial terms, despite the current cyclical downturn. Airports have been one of the gainers in the increase in demand for air travel in the last few decades.'
'But there must be some question mark over whether Birmingham has the financial resources to do that as it is unlikely to be able to fund it on its own. It would also depend on the detail of the Competition Commission report on how the airports are to be disposed of.’
The airport is currently owned by the metropolitan borough councils of the West Midlands and two foreign pension funds and last night John Morris, Birmingham Airport head of corporate and community affairs, said the management was keeping its focus on the airport’s immediate concerns. He told the newspaper: ‘The airport management team is focused on both the day-to-day operation and the future development of Birmingham airport.’
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