Controlling stake in Gatwick sold to French firm Vinci just days after drone fiasco

Controlling stake in Gatwick Airport sold to French firm Vinci just days after drone fiasco caused Christmas chaos for thousands

  • A 50.01% stake in Gatwick Airport has been sold to France’s Vinci for £2.9 billion
  • A consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) currently owns Gatwick
  • Gatwick – the 8th busiest airport in Europe – was badly disrupted last week 

French firm Vinci has penned a deal to buy a controlling stake in Gatwick just days after after drone sightings at the airport caused chaos for thousands of passengers flying before Christmas. 

Vinci, which boasts a portfolio of over 40 airports globally, will pay £2.9billion for a majority 50.01 per cent holding in the UK’s second biggest airport. 

That’s more than double the amount its current owners – a consortium led by US investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) – paid for Gatwick ten years ago. 

Vinci Airports has agreed to pay £2.9billion for a 50.01% stake in Gatwick Airport (above)

Under the terms of the deal, GIP will retain a 49.99 per cent interest in the airport, and the management team will stay in their roles. 

Gatwick was heavily disrupted in the run up to Christmas after reports of drone sightings in its airspace closed its runway. Around 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted ruining the travel plans of tens of thousands of people. 

Commenting on the deal, GIP partner Michael McGhee said: ‘We expect the transaction to be completed by the middle of next year, with the senior leadership team remaining in place.

‘Their focus, along with everyone at Gatwick, obviously remains on doing their very best for customers over the busy holiday period after the challenges of recent days.’

Thousands of travellers were disrupted last week as drones were spotted near Gatwick

Thousands of travellers were disrupted last week as drones were spotted near Gatwick

The GIP consortium acquired Gatwick in 2009 for £1.5billion. 

Nicolas Notebaert, president of Vinci Airports, said: ‘As Gatwick’s new industrial partner, Vinci Airports will support and encourage growth of traffic, operational efficiency and leverage its international expertise in the development of commercial activities to further improve passenger satisfaction and experience.



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