Manchester Airports Group is due to make a £1 billion bid for Stansted as it gets closer to an investment deal.
The company, which owns Manchester, East Midlands, Humberside and Bournemouth airports, is close to a deal with Industry Funds Management, an Australian investment firm, reports the Sunday Times.
BAA is expected to put Stansted up for sale this year after competition authorities told it to offload Edinburgh, Gatwick and Stansted.
The airport operator is currently appealing against the forced sale of Stansted, see previous story.
By Diane Evans
