UK. Sydney-based Macquarie Airports Group and Spanish partner Ferrovial are part of a consortium hoping to buy Exeter Airport, say local newspaper reports.
The consortium also includes Exeter-based property developer Rok Property Solutions group. Rok confirmed to the newspaper that it had joined forces with Macquarie and Ferrovial.
City Hopper, which owns Blackpool and Wolverhampton airports, and Cardiff Airport owner TBI are also said to be among five short-listed bidders.
Macquarie, which also operates Sydney, Rome and Birmingham airports, holds a 50% stake in Bristol Airport with Ferrovial, a building company. Both Bristol and Exeter are located in the West of England.
Local authority-owned Exeter Airport is being sold as the authority can no longer afford to keep pace with the fast-growing site. Estimates of how much the airport might be sold for have ranged from £10 million (US$19.3 million) to £100 million (US$193 million).
City Hopper has also expressed an interest in acquiring the local authority-owned Newquay Airport at RAF St Mawgan, which faces an uncertain future.
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