The sale of a 40 per cent stake in Birmingham International Airport (BIA) to Aer Rianta should be completed during the summer, according to a spokesman for the airport.

The restructuring of the airport should now proceed without delay following the decision by British Environment Secretary Mr John Gummer not to intervene in the planning process for the airport's expansion.

The expansion plans were finally approved by the local Solihull council earlier this month, but there are still several weeks of discussions "before the detailed conditions and rules governing development are agreed", according to BIA.