UK AIRLINES AGAINST GOVERNMENT SELLING ATM STAKE

The Airline Group, a consortium of British airlines which owns 42% of the UK air-traffic control system NATS, has voiced its reluctance for the government to reduce its dominant stake below 25%. The UK government currently controls a 49% stake in the air-traffic control system NATS but is seeking to sell off a portion to help the country reduce its debt burden. In a letter to UK transport minister Philip Hammond, the Group’s chairman Peter Read warned a reduced government stake in NATS would weaken national influence over European Union air traffic policy, which would free France, Germany and Spain