Gatwick sale 'should benefit islanders'

BAA'S decision to sell Gatwick will benefit islanders if its new owner upgrades the airport, Aurigny has said. Gatwick was put up for sale yesterday in the wake of the Competition Commission saying that the operator should sell two of its three south-east airports.

BAA had repeatedly said it had 'no intention' of selling Heathrow, which left Gatwick and Stansted – no decision has yet been made on the last-named. Aurigny managing director Malcolm Hart said a new owner could improve the airport considerably, making it more attractive for airlines and passengers.

'The sale of Gatwick by BAA will be a positive move for Guernsey passengers,' he said. 'It has been recognised for a while that the facilities in Gatwick's South Terminal have not been up to the standard of other UK airports.

Flybe has campaigned for years to see the forced break-up of the operator in order to promote competition, but BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said the decision to sell Gatwick had not been taken lightly.

'When the Competition Commission published its provisional findings, we said that we would be realistic in our response, though we disagree with the commission's report and the analysis on which it is founded,' he said.