Delays in the sale of Gatwick Airport is a mixed blessing which would put the brakes on recruitment but force BAA to reevaluate its succession planning, according to recruiters.

Last week, BAA, which has been told by the Competiton Commission that it must sell three of its seven UK airports, said they did not need to sell London Gatwick.

But Ian Brooks, director at Gail Kenny Executive Search, told Recruiter: “There has always been an undertaking by the Competition Commission that it needs to be sold.

“This is bad news because it creates uncertainty. One thing that stops people recruiting more than anything is uncertainty about the future. Uncertainty means people do not make decisions and they put things off. It is not particularly helpful.”

Nina Johnson-Bennett, managing director at Management Search Executive, adds: “There are good people on the market still. If the quality of individuals are not up to the market, they will bring in new hires.

“BAA is  continuing to look at its succession planning and even more so if they are not going to let Gatwick go. It is the time to review what they have.”