The Competition Commission’s provisional report recommending that BAA sell three of its UK airports is now out for a four-week consultation.
Responses must be in by September 17.
The Commission will submit a final report by March 29 next year. It has the power to order BAA to sell off assets. The decision need not be referred to ministers in the form of a recommendation and does not require formal government assent.
However, government departments are likely to make their views known during the consultation.
BAA will have a right of appeal.
The Commission’s report follows a referral from the Office of Fair Trading in March 2007, made under the Enterprise Act 2002.
BAA only completed refinancing arrangements this week. Its parent company Ferrovial of Spain owns 56% of the operator. Canadian-managed Britannia Airport Partners and UK finance firm GIC Investments own the remainder.