BAA to sell Edinburgh Airport
Published by Simon Gwynn on Sat 09 Jun 12 @ 22:11
Your Chamber is pleased by BAA's decision to keep Glasgow Airport within its portfolio and in turn putting Edinburgh's Airport up for sale.
After a long inquiry, which has led to numerous legal challenges, the Competition Commission found that BAA's ownership of UK airports was anti-competitive and ordered the company to sell Gatwick, Stansted and one of either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
BAA is now beginning preparations for a sale and expects to formally approach the market in the New Year with a view to agreeing a sale by Summer 2012.
Gatwick has already been sold to an American concern and BAA is still disputing the Stansted decision.
Today's move will bring a huge degree of stability back to Glasgow Airport, removing the burden of this issue which has been looming for almost three years.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said: "We are pleased by this decision especially for the current Glasgow Airport management team with whom we enjoy an excellent relationship. The clarity of the decision gives Glasgow Airport stability for the years ahead following three years of uncertainty during which the issue was hanging over the heads of management and staff.
"The airport can now begin to focus solely on investment and growth, attracting routes and investing in its assets, all with a view to increasing the access which Glasgow business has to its international markets and in helping to attract visitors to Scotland. That's what Glasgow Airport and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce are committed to and we will continue to support the management team in its efforts"
BAA, of which Spanish company Ferrovial is a major shareholder, operates six UK airports including Heathrow and Southampton.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "Clearly we welcome today's announcement as it marks the end of what has been a prolonged period of uncertainty. Now a final decision has been reached we can concentrate our efforts on ensuring Glasgow Airport, as part of BAA, continues to deliver for its passengers, the city and Scotland as a whole."
