BAA Wins appeal against monopoly order

BAA has won its appeal against an order to sell three of the seven UK airports it owns on the basis that the ruling panel was affected by "apparent bias".

But the appeal tribunal refused to accept that BAA's argument that it was being forced to sell the airports too quickly. The Competition Commission had ruled in March that BAA must sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports within two years. Gatwick airport which BAA sold towards the end of last year will not be included in the judgement.

It is still unclear whether BAA will have be forced to sell the other airports in the original timescale. The Competition Appeal Tribunal stated they would allow more time to for both sides to voice their opinons as to what should happen next.

BAA said it was pleased they had won the appeal on the grounds of apparent bias and said further talks should now take place with the Competition Commission as the tribunal suggested.

A spokesman for the commission said it was reviewing the ruling and was planning to make further submissions to the tribunal, adding that the judge had made the ruling with "the greatest reluctance".