BAA puts Gatwick up for sale

After being ordered to lose it's stranglehold on London airports, BAA has put Gatwick on the market. In the background they are preparing to fight the requirement to also sell Stansted airport, leaving them only Heathrow left from the London three... They will also be required to sell a Scottish airport after the Competition Commissions' ruling.
Prospective purchasers who have thrown their hat into the ring include:

• A consortium led by Richard Branson
• Manchester Airport
• German construction company, Hochteif.

Gatwick is valued at around £1.7bn, but BAA will be hoping to realise more from the sale. BAA maintain the view that they will be able to successfully oppose the Competition Commission's ruling, but have nonetheless taken the step to sell Gatwick now in the hope that this will strengthen the arguments for keeping Stansted.