Three Australian airports to be privatised

Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, is thought to be among bidders for Australia’s Cairns and
Mackay airports and an interest in Brisbane airport, which are to be
sold off to pay for three new hospitals, say reports.

Queensland premier Anna Bligh said that the airports will be privatised
and will generate more than US$800 million for the health facilities.

The Dubai ruler is head of Emirates Airlines and is believed to have a personal fortune of more than US$16 billion.

Other bidders include Canada-based Ontario Teachers Credit Union, which
may take a 12% interest in Brisbane Airport and also participate in the
bid for the other two regional airports, say executives at Cairns Port
Authority. Queensland Airports is also a likely contender. It runs the
Gold Coast, Townville and Mount Isa airports, which have also been
privatised.

The Queensland government has been forced into the airport sale by the
need to balance its budget and has put its entire portfolio of airport
assets on the market because of political pressure to build the
hospitals while still remaining within financial targets.

Brisbane Airport is owned by a consortium controlled by Dutch airport
operators Schiphol, but the Queensland government retains an interest
after it was privatised in 1997. Both Cairns and Mackay airports are
run by port authorities.

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