Air traffic sell-off to be unveiled

PLANS FOR a partial sell-off of Britain's air traffic control system will be unveiled today. Transport ministers first flagged a commitment to privatise the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) business last year and will flesh out the details this morning.

The sale, which has triggered fears about the impact on air traffic safety, could raise around pounds 500m. The Government may retain a stake in Nats, with the majority going to a trade buyer. Potential bidders could include the electricity distributor National Grid, the French defence electronics firm Thomson-CSF and the UK systems operator Serco Group.