In message .uk, at
14:52:00 on Wed, 28 May 2008, Colin Rosenstiel
remarked:
Stansted is only London's third airport because it is owned by BAA, like
the so-called first and second airports.

It's the Third Airport because the government held several enquiries
into where it should be, including a "near miss" for Maplin (the sands
not the electronics store named after the airport proposal).

BAA is a quasi-monopoly provider,

Privatised, now owned by the Spanish.

whereas Luton is or was owned by its local authority.

Sold to Barclays Bank, and now owned by a different bunch of Spaniards
who also operate Cardiff and Belfast Airports (and Orlando).
--
Roland Perry