BAA may be ordered to sell off some airports: chairman

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — The chairman of BAA said he expected Britain's biggest airport operator to be ordered to break up the company, in an interview Saturday, which would mean selling off some of its key airports.

Nigel Rudd acknowledged that Britain's Competition Commission regulator could force the move when it announces next week the provisional findings of an inquiry into BAA, which is owned by Ferrovial of Spain.

One proposal to be put forward by the commission will be stripping BAA of two of the three London airports it operates -- Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted -- the Financial Times newspaper reported.

Asked about reports that the commission will conclude that BAA's ownership of seven British airports is not in the public interest, Rudd told the BBC:...