The owner of Gatwick is reportedly among two bidders left vying to take over Edinburgh airport.
Global Infrastructure Partners, which also owns London City Airport, is believed to up against a consortium led by investment bank JP Morgan for control of the Scottish airport which BAA has been forced to sell by the Competition Commission.
The airport is thought to be worth at least £500 million, forcing other potential bidders out of the process.
Korea’s Incheon International Airport and US pension fund Tiaa-Cref, with profits of $1.4 billion in 2010, are reported to have joined the JP Morgan bid, according to the Sunday Times.
Second round bids for Edinburgh airport, which handles 9.5 million passengers a year, are due in by mid-April.