The boss of Kent International Airport has welcomed news that airports operator BAA must sell both Gatwick and Stansted in order to reduce its dominance in the South East.

The Competition Commission has ordered that the two London airports, which carry a total of 56 million passengers every year, must be sold within two years.

BAA will also need to sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport to improve competition in Scotland.

Passengers will see lower prices, improved customer service and better investment as a result, the Commission said on Thursday (March 19).

Matt Clarke, chief executive of Kent International Airport, said: “The announcement isn’t surprising and is in line with the preliminary findings released last year.

“If the breakup of BAA helps to stimulate competition in the South East this can only be a good thing for passengers and the aviation industry in general.

“Improved competition will pave the way for deregulated pricing, creating opportunities for airports with available capacity like ours.”

Kent International Airport last year announced ambitious plans to expand rapidly between now and 2033, when owners Infratil expect 5.7 million passengers and 500,000 tonnes of freight will pass through the site at Manston every year.

BAA, which has already begun selling Gatwick, said it would consider the Competition Commission’s report carefully before deciding how to respond.

In a statement, it claimed the Commission’s analysis was “flawed” and said that selling three airports could be “impractical” in the current economic conditions.