Just my 2 penny worth - but usually shot down in fire when I post on STN thread....

No one stock up for the massive decamp from Luton to Stansted in the 90s due to well known facts. P45's all round then for Luton airport workers. I'm afraid I just see this as levelling the playing field, finally and bring on the future. Both can prosper in their own way but at the moment, short term LTN looks better.

Sooner the better ...
 

BAA has started sounding out bankers about a sale of Stansted Airport for more than £1bn, the Telegraph reports. The newspaper's 'sources' said BAA is preparing to carry out a beauty parade of investment banks at the end of the month, with a view to appointing one to carry out a sale of the airport next year.

The move comes as BAA weighs up whether it should seek a judicial review of the Competition Commissions's decision to force the company to sell Stansted and one of Scotland's two main airports, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In July, the Commission confirmed the decision, arguing ‘that passengers and airlines would benefit from greater competition with the airports under separate ownership’.

Previous reports suggested Stansted may sell for £1.2bn but BAA's regulated asset base is now £1.35bn. Gatwick sold for a discount on its regulated asset base, but its acquisition debt has since been refinanced to release a premium to its buyers.

Well, I wouldn't pay a penny more than £1bn, nor do I think will anyone else.

After all, that's getting on for a whole afternoon's pay. :)

BAA's new bid to stop Stansted saleBy Web Reporter
BAA is to make a last stand against the Competition Commission’s (CC) order to sell Stansted Airport.

Today (Thursday, September 15) the operator confirmed that it will seek a judicial review of the monopolies watchdog's decision requiring it to auction its Uttlesford hub and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport.

A statement confirmed: “The challenge relates to the Competition Commission's consideration of whether there have been material changes of circumstances since its original 2009 decision such that it is not necessary or appropriate to require BAA to divest Stansted.”

BAA will be submitting the application for judicial review to the Competition Appeal Tribunal tomorrow (Friday, September 16).

The move comes after July's judgement, when the CC rejected BAA’s claim that there had been "material changes in circumstances" since it provisionally ordered the auction of its Essex hub in March – and concluded the deal must go ahead.

Despite a series of legal challenges, the CC insisted that the sale of the airport was “fully justified” and that passengers and airlines would still benefit from greater competition with the airports under separate ownership - despite the current Government's decision to rule out new runways at any of the London airports.

Then BAA’s chief executive Colin Matthews said: “We are dismayed … The Competition Commission has not recognised that the world and BAA have changed. This decision would damage our company which is investing strongly in UK jobs and growth.”

After the judicial review bid was announced today, Stop Stansted Expansion’s economics adviser Brian Ross said: "This is appalling behaviour and an abuse of the legal process. It's simply aimed at trying to cling onto Stansted for as long as possible in the hope of obtaining a better price."

so sad that the BAA are still trying to keep hold of Stansted, Luton must be thinking its christmas already !!

The sooner the BAA are gone the better for the airport. I was with some senior managers from the BAA recently and they as much as admitted that the BAA dont care about anything other than Heathrow

Agree entirely,

Maybe a change of ownership will bring a change of airside security guards, this time with personalities:E

The Competition Commission has ordered BAA to sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow before it puts Stansted up for sale.

Source BBC News

STN Ramp jet..

Don't forget it was profits from LHR that have been used to fund STN expansion..low cost carriers bring no money in for airports !

However agree with others now BAA are not interested in STN ,a new rich owner is required to provide the money that LHR profits used to.:ooh:

Nigel

BAA are trying to keep hold of Stansted so they must have some interest in the place. Meanwhile MAG will be waiting in the wings if it does go on sale.

Some rare positive news......
 

Cyprus Airways have seen the error of their ways and are returning from 19th December to Larnaca due to customer demand. Twice weekly Mon and Thu with 'additional frequencies' next summer.

I wonder if LCA-STN will be an Ryanair Route when LCA is announced as a Base ???

Potential Buyers for STN
 

with MAG being the mentioned as waiting in the wings, who else would be interested in purchasing STN.

They have not been very successful in selling or getting the Diamond hangar re-occupied.....would anyone want the airport?

TUGNBAR - there are 2 issues. First, does someone (other than BAA) want to own STN, and second, how much will they pay ?

Suppose BAA were willing to sell for £1m - highly likely that some company will want to pay for STN. Now suppose, BAA want £10bn - almost certain nobody will pay up.

I don't know what kind of bidding / auction mechanism will be put in place for a possible sale of STN, but it seems most likely that at least one bidder will emerge if BAA put up a "for sale" sign

Unfortunately it may well be “if” not “when” on the sale after the last moves by the competition commission. If the BAA are forced to sell by the government then they will have to sell for the best price they can get, which won’t necessarily be the price they want for it.

I think the BAA have bought themselves at least another year with the sale of EDI and the continued legal challenges, that is another year for the airport to die a little more

Stands Question:
 

Hi guys was just looking at STN's Charts today and im wondering why the following stands;

1) L25, R25
2) L45, R45
3) L65, R65

Have no Stand markings? am i right in this ? just wondering what procedures marshallers use at STN for those stands? Gladly appreciate it :ok:

You must have old charts, these stands (which are at the end of each satelitte and are joined to the Juliet taxiway, not the cul-de-sacs) were re configured a while ago, they are now just J25, J45 and J65, no left or right anymore.

Regrads

J25 has just a centre stand now, while 45 and 65 are still left and right. They also have full stand guidance.

Website
 

I see Stansted has a new look Website, well a font and colour change.
It looks better than the old yellow site but it is still very busy with ads and pop ups...

Maybe now they have finished work on the out dated website they can try and get some new Airlines and routes :ugh:.

Tiny bit of good news
 

Pegasus Airlines will operate of an additional two flights a week between Stanated and Istanbul, with connections to destinations across Turkey, North Cyprus and beyond, next summer. A new double daily service between Stansted and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

german wings and air berlin off to menzies and pegasus going to swissport....what is going on at the circus????

controled closure?

well I did wonder.If so,it would leave the door open for them to bring SMART handling onto the airport.....maybe early next year????????????????????

to handle whom? there is no point, I don't see a withdrawal on the cargo side as they are the biggest (only?) independent player in that market with handling and a shed

I understand that German Wings and Air Berlin movement is public knowlegde, but Pegasus seems to be new news, appears you are an insider, is this confirmed or just rumour, and if confirmed when does Swissport start to handle Pegaus?:sad:

Just a rumour, I heard today that Menzies had got that as well!

What ever happens it's not good news for Servisair, though TUPE will proect some staff I'm sure

LG-BA-LX ???
 

I see there are a few diverts on the arrival screens tonight
the is a LX, LG and a few BA's
anyone know what the problem is ??? WEX ???

Poor vis at LCY.

Cheers thought as much, Dont you just love the winter months :}.

also some of the BA flights into LHR diverted to STN, LTN and CWL

cs

2 Virgin 340-600's also came into STN about 5ish for fuel n go waiting to get into LHR due low vis.

A new LCC based in Iceland called WOW Air will start operations next June. One of the 12 new destionations will be STN with 3 weekly flights to KEF.
Flight Information | wowair.is

I wonder why anyone would fly with an unknown Icelandic airline when they can fly with Britain's largest airline from KEF to Luton - dates I checked in June were £30 cheaper with EZY!

Presumably to avoid Luton!

it has now been made official that Servisair will pull off the ramp during the first week of february next year.In another twist it is rumoured that they are considering a merge with swissport for the cargo operation in an attempt to keep menzies out.Interesting times ahead.

Servisair.
 

I heard yesterday that they were handing over all passenger operations to Menzies effective 5th February 2012. and that all staff would TUPE. the Airport Agencies and Cargo operations are uneffected. I dont know about the ramp staff as they were part of cargo I understand.

that would seem to be at conflict with the post above about cooperation with Swissport.

no doubt someone that works for Servisair will clarify what the actual position is shortly when they have absorbed the news. I feel very sorry for all the Servisair staff, it used to be a fantastic operation at Stansted and soon it will be gone.

Air Asia leaving Gatwick ?
 

AirAsia X-ing services to four cities

it seems that not everything works out at Gatwick

It's nothing to do with Gatwick specifically, otherwise the 3 other destinations wouldn't be under threat as well

yes its more to do with long haul low cost travel not working in practice

Well at least it was after they left STN or this thread would have been full of Lutoners saying it all Stansteds fault :oh:.

yes its more to do with long haul low cost travel not working in practice

Thats because Air Asia's LGW-KUL fares are no longer particulary attractive. Even if you can get the lowest promo fare its around £470 return (before all the add-on's) For not a lot more you can get a return with a major carrier with perhaps one short stop in AMS or DXB and a lot better service!