The battle for Stansted is due to come to a head as three parties fight it out for the airport.
Final bids are due on Wednesday in the £1 billion auction and it is believed a preferred bidder could be appointed by the end of the week, reports the Sunday Times.
A joint venture between Manchester Airports Group and Industry Funds Management, an Australian infrastructure investor; Malaysia Airports, which is bidding with YTL, and Macquarie, the Australian investment bank, are all interested.
A consortium led by Morrison & Co, the New Zealand infrastructure firm, withdrew from the race last week after failing to secure funding.
Ferrovial, the Spanish construction group which owns Heathrow, was forced to put Stansted up for sale by the Competition Commission.
