REPORTS that Edinburgh Airport could be put up for sale have led to speculation that the current owners could more than double their money on their investment in Scotland’s busiest airport.

The airport was bought by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the New York-based investors, from BAA for £807 million in 2012. Newspaper reports say that the owners are now looking for a sum of around £2 billion for Edinburgh.

GIP have invested heavily in extending the airport, which is now Scotland’s busiest and which handled more than one million passengers in March – the first time that has happened. GIP have already sold off their other UK airports, London City and Gatwick, making considerable profits on both sales.

The firm sold its 50.01% stake in Gatwick for £2.9bn to French giant Vinci, while GIP also made £2bn from its sale of London City Airport to a consortium of buyers in 2016.

The Sunday Telegraph, citing City sources, revealed the potential sale. Edinburgh Airport management is making no comment on the reports.

A major airport investor told the newspaper that GIP, which is led by investment banker Adebayo Ogunlesi, is expected to wait for more clarity over Brexit before launching a formal sale process.

Two years ago, similar rumours of a sale were circulating but GIP decided not to proceed due to uncertainty caused by Brexit.

Possible buyers could include infrastructure investors Macquarie, Brookfield, APG and CKI. Penion funds, including public sector funds in Canada and the US, could also be interested.

The sale would come at a time when the airport is busier than ever. More than one million people passed through Edinburgh Airport in March, making it the first ever one-million-passenger March for the terminal.

A total of 1,106,998 people used the airport, up 14.8% on the same month last year, with growth in both the domestic and international markets. The airport said that growth is also helped when compared to disruption caused by last year’s Beast from the East.

Announcing the new record, Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “To get our first ever million-passenger March is another milestone for us and shows our variety of destination and types of holidays and trips are really providing for our passengers.

“While these figures are good, we always need to look ahead and consider what is on the horizon and uncertainty caused by Brexit, the expensive aviation tax we face and the impact it has on our airlines.

“We will continue to work to mitigate and manage those things as best as possible and for the benefit of our passengers.”

Sources in Edinburgh have told The National that rumours

of a sale being in the offing have been circulating in the capital for some time.

One property investment specialist said: “It makes a lot of sense for Global Infrastructure Partners to cash in on an asset that is appreciating greatly.

“There’s a worldwide boom in airport infrastructure sales and with its rapid growth in the last few years, Edinburgh Airport looks a very attractive buy just now.

“It is only going to get busier with new routes opening up all the time, and there have been developments, such as a hotel and an international business park, set for the land around the airport which will only make it more attractive to potential buyers.”