THEUK’s main airlines are expected to put forward a bid to run the country’s air-traffic control systems.
The offer for National Air Traffic Services will be made if the Government, as expected, announces plans to sell off 51% of the Civil Aviation Authority subsidiary in November.
The Government is expected to retain 49% of the business, with 5% going to staff and 46% to a private bidder which will control NATS. The plans are part of Labour’s private-public partnership programme to improve state-owned UK businesses.
Airlines involved include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, British Midland, Airtours International and Monarch.
The group is understood to have appointed lawyers and a merchant bank to look into a proposed deal.
Opposition bidders are likely to include the National Grid and aviation giants Lockheed Martin and Thomson CSF.
Airlines are keen to be involved in the sell-off due to safety fears that air-traffic control may suffer under private control.