Balfour Beatty could be on the verge of buying Leeds Bradford International Airport, just months after it purchased Exeter International Airport for £60m.
The construction firm is believed to be on a shortlist of bidders for the airport, which is owned by five local authorities, including Leeds and Bradford city councils.
A Balfour representative confirmed the firm had submitted a bid, but could not comment any further. A spokesman for Leeds City Council could not confirm how many bidders were on the shortlist, or who they were.
The shortlisted bidders have until 28 February to submit their applications, and a final decision is expected in April.
Devon CC sold Exeter International Airport to Balfour Beatty last month. The county council retained a ‘golden share’ as well as a non-executive seat on the board of the airport.
Meanwhile, the seven councils in the West Midlands with a stake in Birmingham International Airport have pledged their support for the airport, after two major shareholders announced they were selling up.
Infrastructure group Macquarie and airport management group, Aer Rianta, which have a combined stake of 48%, are both selling their shares.
‘Birmingham’s airport plays a pivotal role in the regional economy and our status on the global stage cannot be underestimated,’ said West Midlands Joint Committee chairman, Cllr Ted Richards.
‘That is why it is imperative that we work with all parties to ensure that the sale proves a success, Birmingham International Airport continues to prosper and that we can advance the West Midlands as a world-class destination.
‘We look forward to talking with potential future partners to ensure continued substantial investment and improvement in the airport to support the economic success of the region.’
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