Heathrow reported higher revenues and profits today after a record 70 million passengers used Britain's biggest airport during 2012.

The company formerly known as BAA is to sell Stansted airport to the Manchester Airports group for £1.5 billion.

The number of passengers passing through Heathrow’s terminals hit a record high of 5.6 million in December as demand for European, Middle East and east Asian flights soared.

Up to 10cm was predicted to fall overnight and into the early hours of Monday morning, spreading southwards from Scotland

Airport operator BAA is to change its name after nearly 50 years.

Tony Blair promised “A once-in-an-era opportunity for British tourism”. Boris Johnson predicted “When hundreds of thousands of people come, it will inevitably be good for this city”. But the official figures show tourism slumped over the London Olympics, contributing to a dismal summer for visitor numbers.

Ryanair, the low cost carrier, is in talks about buying a 25 per cent stake in London Stansted airport, which is up for sale for an estimated £1bn.

Ryanair, the low cost carrier, said it was interested in buying a 25 per cent stake in London Stansted airport, which is up for sale for an estimated £1bn.

Stansted Airport was put up for sale yesterday after its owner, BAA, finally gave up a three-year battle against the Competition Commission which ordered the sell-off back in March 2009.

Stansted Airport was put up for sale yesterday after its owner BAA finally gave up a three-year battle against the Competition Commission which ordered the sell-off in March 2009.

Outlook Those Qataris must know something we don't. Only a day or so ago, they laid out £900m for a fifth of BAA, the owner of Heathrow. No sooner is the ink dry than BAA has thrown in the towel on its bid to hang onto Stansted airport, which it was ordered to sell by the Competition Commission three years ago.

Airport operator BAA is to give up its long legal battle over the forced sale of Stansted Airport.

Qataris buy 20% stake in BAA 

The number of passengers using the UK's main airports dipped last month as people stayed at home to watch the Olympics.