BAA puts Gatwick Airport up for sale

BAA has announced it will sell Gatwick Airport just weeks after it was recommended to by the Competition Commission (CC), according to reports.

The airport operator was asked by the CC to sell one if its London hubs after fears were expressed over a possible monopoly which was damaging competition in the airport industry.

Passengers are being advised that it is "business as usual" at the hub and that Gatwick Airport will be sold at the earliest opportunity to reduce the impact on customers.

In a statement, BAA chief executive Colin Matthews, said: "Gatwick has long been an important and valuable part of BAA and the decision to sell was not taken lightly. We believe that the airport's customers, staff and business will benefit from the earliest possible resolution of current uncertainty."

A number of organisations, including Virgin Atlantic, have shown an interest in purchasing the airport in recent weeks following the publication of the CC's findings.

Steve Ridgeway, chief executive at Virgin Atlantic, said: "Virgin Atlantic would relish the opportunity to bid for Gatwick as part of a consortium and inject our customer service expertise into any future running of the airport."