BAA ordered by regulator to sell three airports

BAA has been ordered to sell Gatwick and Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports by the Competition Commission after a two-year investigation.

The Commission looked into BBA's dominance over the UK market - the company currently owns seven airports - and has given BAA two years to sell off the airports.

The airports must also be sold in sequence, starting with Gatwick, then Stansted, and then finally either Edinburgh or Glasgow. The sale of Gatwick is already under way with possible buyers currently being vetted.

The regulator said its move was the "only way to address comprehensively the detriment to passengers and airlines from the complete absence of competition."

BAA has two months to respond to the findings and can lodge an appeal against the decision.