It’s official, BAA is to sell Edinburgh Airport. The announcement was made yesterday ending months of speculation.

The airport, which is Scotland’s largest airport, handles more than 100,000 flights and around 9.2 million passengers a year and was named Best European Airport (5-10m Passengers) in 2011.

BAA, which was ordered to sell either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports by the Competition Commission, is preparing for the sale with the airport going to market in early 2012 with a view to agreeing a sale by the summer of 2012.

Jim O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Today’s announcement brings the clarification that many have been calling for and although we will be sorry to leave BAA, we do so in the knowledge that we’re in an extremely strong and healthy position.

“Not only has Edinburgh Airport benefited from considerable investment in recent years but we have an excellent team in place which has been the driving force behind our success to date.

“We will now begin preparing for the sale process, but irrespective of who may own it, the team at Edinburgh Airport will undoubtedly continue to deliver for its passengers, the city and Scotland as a whole.”