All three must be sold in sequence within the next two years, beginning with Gatwick, followed by Stansted and then one of the Scottish airports.

Christopher Clarke, who chaired the CC inquiry, declared the break-up the "only way to address comprehensively the detriment to passengers and airlines from the complete absence of competition" in Scotland and south east England.

BAA called the CC analysis "flawed" and said "its remedies may be impractical in current economic conditions".
year ago.

Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which runs Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside airports, is one of the companies in the running to take over Gatwick, with a sale figure likely to be around £2bn. The group is also interested in operating whichever of the Scottish airports BAA is forced to give up.