AIRPORTS operator BAA has lost its appeal at a tribunal against a ruling that it must sell Stansted Airport, the Competition Commission has said.

The defeat marks the latest stage in legal wranglings which have been rumbling on since 2009 when BAA was ordered by the Commission to sell a number of its airports.

The Commission's original ruling found there were problems which adversely affected passengers and airlines at all seven BAA airports, which at the time included Gatwick.