Airports operator BAA has not been given permission to appeal against a ruling forcing it to sell Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports.
It has tried to fight the decision through various legal challenges since the Competition Commission ruled in 2009 that it must sell off three of its seven UK airports.
The ruling has already forced BAA to sell off London Gatwick.
A BAA spokesperson said it was disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear its latest appeal.
“We continue to make the case to the Competition Commission that the circumstances in which they found reason to force the sale of airports have changed significantly since early 2009 and should certainly be reviewed in the light of the Government’s policy to rule out new runway capacity in the South East of England,†he said.
In a statement, the Competition Commission said it was looking at whether there had been any significant developments since the original decision back in March 2009 that would make it reconsider its position.
It said it would consider the arguments from BAA and others and should report back towards the end of next month.
By Bev Fearis
