BAA bids Stansted farewell

THE UK’s Competition Commission (CC) has ruled that airport operator BAA must sell Stansted Airport, the UK’s number two cargo airport.

After three years, the CC’s final say is that BAA’s ownership of seven UK airports, including London Heathrow, damaged competition in the country.

BAA bids farewell to the 204,000 metric tonnes of cargo, which passed through Stansted last year. It has also had to part with Gatwick Airport and now must sell Edinburgh Airport, as part of the CC’s ruling.

The cargo jewel in BAA’s crown, however, remains Heathrow, which is challenging Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (the Netherlands) for third spot on the European cargo scene. The UK’s largest cargo hub shipped 1.48 million tonnes in 2011.