# Billion-Dollar Airport Deals Richard Branson to Buy Gatwick By Going Like Sixty | Published 2008-09-18 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bodacious-billionaire-richard-branson-wants-to-own-europes-sixth-busiest-ai References: [luxist](http://www.luxist.com/2008/09/17/branson-and-dubai-royals-in-talks-to-buy-gatwick-airport/) & [telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/09/17/bcnbaa117.xml) Richard Branson, the founder of [Virgin Group](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virgin-atlantic-1) ([Virgin Atlantic Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/middle-seat-lottery)), is moving to buy London’s Gatwick Airport. Currently, BAA Ltd. owns Gatwick and [Heathrow](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heathrow-airport). The Competition Commission, a government entity, recommended BAA sell Gatwick in order to promote more market competition. Its asking price is $5.4 billion. Richard Branson can’t swing the deal alone because he is only worth $2.8 billion, so he’s looking to the Saudi royalty to go in on the deal with him. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 23% | Activity: 79% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Airport Ownership Changes:** Entrepreneurs could capitalize on airport ownership changes to acquire airport properties and enter the airport industry. - **Increased Airport Competition:** Companies could capitalize on increased airport competition to offer better services and prices, and to push innovation in the airport industry. - **New Airport Investment Opportunities:** Investors could capitalize on new airport investment opportunities resulting from airport ownership changes and increasing airport competition. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Airport Industry:** Entrepreneurs could enter the airport industry to offer innovative airport services and to acquire airport properties. - **Investment Industry:** Investors could capitalize on new airport investment opportunities resulting from airport ownership changes and increasing airport competition. - **Airline Industry:** Airlines could capitalize on increased airport competition to offer better prices and services, and to collaborate with airport entrepreneurs for innovation in the airport industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Experiential Prize Flight Raffles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/middle-seat-lottery.md) - [Airline Merchandise Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virgin-atlantic-1.md) - [Luxury Airport Retail Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schiphol-airport-1.md) - [Festive In-Flight Serves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-cow-1.md) - [Luxury Designer Airport Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-cafe.md) - [Complimentary Airplane WiFi Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/british-airways-and-starlink.md) - [Winery-Owned Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invivo-air.md) - [Subtropical Natural Landscape Airports](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gelephu-international-airport.md) - [Airport Terminal Grocery Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sainsburys-local.md)