Buyers circle Gatwick and Stansted
21.04.08
Bankers have held talks with potential buyers of London's Gatwick and Stansted airports before a UK competition watchdog report, which is due to be released tomorrow and could lead to a break-up of airport operator BAA, the Mail reports. The Mirror suggests that it will be Gatwick that BAA is ordered to sell.
BAA owns and operates seven of Britain's biggest airports, including the three biggest around London - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - the three biggest in Scotland - Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow - plus Southampton Airport. A report due tomorrow from the Competition Commission is expected to support an Office of Fair Trading recommendation for a full investigation, which could ultimately recommend that Ferrovial sell at least one of its London airports, according to press reports.
The Mail, citing no sources, said investment bankers had held talks with unnamed interested parties from India and the Middle East as well as Singapore state investor Temasek. The Mirror adds that 'Senior Government sources' believe the Commission is ‘virtually certain’ to order BAA to sell a London airport, quoting 'experts' suggesting the most likely option would be to make BAA sell Gatwick.
A 'well-placed source' told the Mirror: ‘Recent events at Heathrow have pretty much sealed the fate of BAA. It is hard to defend its monopoly when it has meant so much chaos and frustration for passengers.’ A spokesman for BAA declined to comment on the reports.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book gatwick hotels or gatwick parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great gatwick parking and gatwick hotels price comparison pages.
