Watchdog orders airport sell-off

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The Competition Commission (CC) said Spanish-owned BAA must dispose of Gatwick and Stansted - plus either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports - within two years.

BAA, which has been heavily criticised for the standard of services at its seven UK airports, has already put Gatwick up for sale.

The commission, which has been investigating BAA's dominant position for two years, said the airports would be sold in sequence - beginning with Gatwick, then Stansted, followed by either Edinburgh or Glasgow. BAA also runs Heathrow, Southampton and Aberdeen airports.

"We are confident that the sale of these airports will bring substantial benefits to passengers and airlines," said Christopher Clarke, who chaired the inquiry.

He added: "We expect that the new airport owners, with the operating capabilities and financial resources to develop them as effective competitors, will have a much greater incentive than BAA to be more responsive to their customers."

BAA said it would consider the CC's final report carefully before deciding how to respond.

In a statement, the company said: "We accept the need to change and, having reorganised to improve customer service and having initiated the sale of Gatwick, BAA is already changing.

"However, we believe the commission's analysis is flawed and its remedies may be impractical in current economic conditions."