Stansted is one of two UK airports that must be sold by operator BAA, competition chiefs have ruled.

The Competition Commission’s (CC) final ruling states BAA must sell Stansted Airport followed by either Edinburgh or Glasgow.

The airport operator, which owns six sites including Heathrow, will start the sale process in three months.

But the CC added that this could take place “sooner if undertakings are accepted from BAA in the meantime”.

The latest announcement follows a provisional ruling on the sales of Stansted and other airports in March.

It will also bring to an end a two-year long saga over BAA’s airport ownership, which began in March 2009.

In the 2009 ruling BAA was told to sell Stansted Airport, either Glasgow or Edinburgh, and Gatwick, which has since been sold.

But the CC findings were disregarded by BAA after the firm set out a string a legal challenges to the ruling.

The commission then had to look into whether any material changes in circumstances may have taken place since 2009.

The CC found that the airport sales were justified after considering the latest ruling and the provisional findings in March.

It said that passengers visiting Stansted, Gatwick, Edinburgh or any other airport would benefit from added competition under the separate ownership.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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