A group of infrastructure investors around Europe are working on the sale of their stakes in European airports, leveraging on the recovery of travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to bankers, investors and industry sources. Among the largest of the airports that may see a change of ownership as soon as 2024 is Edinburgh Airport Limited, five of the sources said. Its owner Global Infrastructure Management, LLC (GIP) is working on the sale of its majority stake in a process that may value the airport at over ?2.5 billion ($2.72 billion), according to two sources close to the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is private.

AGS Airports Limited, which oversees operations at Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports and is owned by Macquarie Group Limited (ASX:MQG) and Ferrovial SE (BME:FER), may also follow, according to two people with knowledge of the plans. Investors in 2i Aeroporti SpA, which has a stake in the operator of Milan's Linate and Malpensa airports, are also weighing a sale, according to three sources close to the matter. The minority investors in 2i Aeroporti, Ardian and Credit Agricole Assurance (Crédit Agricole Assurances S.A.), have hired Mediobanca and Credit Agricole to find a buyer for their 49% stake in the company, the people said.

Catania's airport operator SAC (S.A.C. Società Aeroporto Catania S.p.A.) also hired Mediobanca and law firm Gianni & Origoni to assist in the "preparatory and operational phase" of a privatisation process, SAC Chief Executive Nico Torrisi said in an emailed statement. Ardian, GIP, Ferrovial, Macquarie, Credit Agricole, and Mediobanca declined to comment.