Why sell it when the council is awash with airport money? I see the main news item in the local rag is a story about a council donation of £81,800 to the main Mosque so they can spend the money on preventing violent extremism.
Sounds like a lot of money but it was funded by just 16,380 passengers paying a £5 concession fee. From the council’s point of view the airport is an asset that was built by the council so now they are reaping the reward.