LONDON (AP) — Britain's Court of Appeal has affirmed an order requiring BAA to sell three of the airports it operates to allow for greater competition.

BAA, which owns Heathrow airport and other facilities, has already sold Gatwick, Britain's second busiest airport. The sales had been ordered by the anti-monopoly panel, the Competition Commission, but BAA successfully appealed to a tribunal by arguing that one personal association with the commission also had an interest in the owner of Manchester airport.

The Competition Commission order, which was reinstated yesterday by the court, requires BAA to sell Stansted, an airport serving London, and one of its Scottish airports. BAA is owned by a consortium led by Grupo Ferrovial SA of Spain.