Airport’s shareholder mulls Chicago bid
MANCHESTER Airports Group’s new shareholder, Australian group Industry Funds Management, is mulling a bid for Chicago Midway Airport.
IFM, which took a stake in MAG as part of the recent £1.5bn acquisition of Stansted Airport, is one of a number of parties looking at Midway Airport – the Windy City’s second airport behind Chicago O’Hare.
MAG sources said its officials may provide operational advice as part of the process, but stressed the project was “very much IFM’s show.”
Midway Airport is one of the top 30 US airports by passenger numbers – last year it flew 19.5 million people, compared to O’Hare’s 67 million passengers.
IFM is said to be one of 16 parties to have expressed interest in the Chicago asset, which is currently owned by the city.
A MAG spokesman said: “MAG is not providing any equity to a deal. The airport group may provide operational consultancy services later on, if requested.”
