Airport operator BAA has launched its appeal against the Competition Commission's (CC) decision to demand the sale of both Gatwick and Stansted airports to safeguard competition at all UK airports.

The Spanish-owned operator has also been ordered to dispose of either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport after the commission ruled in March that passengers and airlines were not receiving a fair deal. BAA had already announced that it was looking to sell Gatwick Airport in September 2008 in a bid to address competition concerns, while the operator has also unveiled plans for a £40m redevelopment of Edinburgh and the expansion of Stansted.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal will now hear the appeal, with BAA set to argue that the commission failed to take account of the economic downturn before demanding the sale of the three airports. Image: Stansted Airport, one of the airports BAA is being ordered to sell - Britain On View