Bidders circling Gatwick airport today played down expectations of a second runway at Britain's second-largest airport once a deal has been completed.
Sources close to potential buyers said expanding the airport was a lesser priority and that they expected the auction to focus on Gatwick's current single-runway business.
Work on building a second runway at the airport could not begin until 2019 under the terms of an agreement with West Sussex county council, with government policy stating that new runways at Heathrow and Stansted should be considered first.
A source at one interested party said the prospect of expanding the airport would not play a significant part in valuing it.
"The first and foremost consideration is Gatwick as it stands," the source said. "The prospect of a second runway is there, but there are question marks. We are not prepared to commit to planning for a second runway. It is not part of the plan."
The Gatwick sales memorandum contains extracts from an airport masterplan published by the airports operator BAA two years ago, in which the group outlined the possible location for a second runway.
The plan, drawn up in response to the government's 2003 aviation white paper, states: "The construction and use of a second Gatwick runway is inherently feasible and practicable and, whilst we appreciate that such development is currently opposed by a substantial number of local authorities, organisations and individuals, we agree with the government that it is appropriate to keep open the option for a wide spaced runway to be developed after 2019."
In a statement today, BAA said it was "clearly not in a position to offer any comment on the future plans of any bidders".
Potential bidders for Gatwick, which has been valued at around £2bn, include Manchester Airport Group, Vancouver Airport with Citigroup bank, the private equity firm 3i, the German construction group Hochtief and the Australian infrastructure fund Babcock & Brown.
The competition commission has warned BAA that it could be forced to put two more airports up for sale next year, with Stansted and Edinburgh also set to be auctioned.
BAA said a sale could jeopardise plans to expand Stansted because it would boost growing opposition to a second runway at the Essex airport while the new owner gets to grips with a planning process that goes to a public inquiry next year.
