Buster -
Pretty impressive company, not too sure how they have been hit by the financial meltdown in Espania?
The point is that they are
not a private company - they are an arm of the Spanish Government. And it's the Spanish Government that's broke!
Giles -
Does Luton Borough Council have any say in who the new leaseholders will be for the airport?!
Yes - the Airport has agreed the current arrangements which gave AENA the 'first refusal' to buy the Abertis stake. I imagine the agreement was tripartite between London Luton Airport Ltd (the Council-owned company that owns the airport freehold), Abertis (90% shareholder) and AENA (10% shareholder).
Eric quotes:
Spanish newspaper Expansion said AENA was teaming up with French insurer AXA to bid for Luton
That at least is a ray of light; although AXA is French, it is a 50bn Euro public corporation. If they are stumping up some serious cash, I expect they will be looking for either a stake, or nominated directors, or other influence over management. The French have a pretty good record of long-term thinking when it comes to infrastructure (TGV, decent roads & airports, etc).