Stansted Airport put up for sale

Airport operator BAA has announced it is to sell Stansted Airport after losing battles in courts.

The company said it has decided not to appeal to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal’s agreed it should sell off the Essex airport due to competition rules.

Despite its decision, BAA said “We still believe that the Competition Commission ruling fails to recognise that Stansted and Heathrow serve different markets.”

BAA had previously sold off Gatwick and Edinburgh airports due to competition rulings and after the Stansted sale will still operate Heathrow, Southampton, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Around 17.5 million passengers use the airport each year and it is London’s third busiest airport. 

By Amanda Greenwood, 20 August 2012, Monday 9:48 AM