Possible Scottish local authority partnership with Manchester Airport Group to buy Glasgow Airport

With the British Airports Authority (BAA), owned by Spanish company Ferrovial, instructed by the Competition Commission to sell either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport, there was an immediate declaration of interest from the owners of Manchester Airport – Manchester Airport Group (MAG). There have been calls in Scotland for one of the two airports to be brought into public ownership, resulting in some west coast local authorities looking at the possibility of joining MAG in a bid, as a junior partner. Bids are expected to be in the region of £700 million. The Manchester group have said that they would not be averse to such a partnership but the key will be the financial ability of the eventual purchaser to invest in the development of the airport after the initial commitment invovled in buying it. Argyll has an interest in the matter as Glasgow Airport is it’s nearest national and international departure point by air.