BAA to appeal against forced sale of Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow

UK's BAA stated (15-Sep-2011) it would be seeking a judicial review of the Competition Commission's decision requiring it to sell Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport. The challenge relates to the Competition Commission's consideration of whether there have been material changes of circumstances since its original 2009 decision such that it is not necessary or appropriate to require BAA to divest Stansted. BAA will be submitting the application for judicial review to the Competition Appeal Tribunal on 16-Sep-2011. Ferrovial-owned BAA has already lost an appeal to the Competition Commission (Bloomberg/Reuters/This is Money/Travelmole/Airport-World/Airports International/This is London/Express and Star, 15-Sep-2011). Ryanair condemned (15-Sep-2011) the appeal, stating it would delay the sale of Stansted for a further 12 months. "This is yet another legal delay to the sale of Stansted, which has been repeatedly delayed by Ferrovial/BAA's legal manoeuvrings," the LCC said. It has already been two years since BAA was ordered to sell the UK airports, but the company is arguing the market has changed significantly since the original decision was announced. Since then, the Coalition Government has ruled out an additional runway for London Heathrow, it said. [more - original PR from BAA] [more - original PR from Ryanair]