AIRPORT operator BAA must sell London Stansted airport, after losing an appeal against an earlier order by the Competition Commission.
But BAA has not ruled out appealing further, in the latest twist in a three-year fight between the firm and the Competition Commission over its dominance of the UK airport market.
“We are disappointed by the decision of the Competition Appeal Tribunal which we will now carefully consider before making any further statements,” BAA said.
Last year the commission ordered BAA to sell one of its Scottish airports before it disposes of Stansted.
BAA, owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial, put Edinburgh airport up for sale in October, but asked for a judicial review of the latest ruling on Stansted.
“Whilst BAA is of course entitled to explore the available avenues for challenge, it is now surely time for BAA to accept our findings and proceed with the necessary divestments,” said Laura Carstensen, a member of the original inquiry.
Ryanair, which operates most of its London flights out of Stansted and has long lobbied for a break-up of BAA’s airports, welcomed the decision and called for the “urgent sale” of the site.
