BAA has confirmed it will re-brand itself with Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen Southampton and Stansted Airports all set to operate solely under their own stand-alone brand names.

Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said: “We are a different company today from when BAA was formed.

“Over the last few years we have sold our stakes in Gatwick, Edinburgh, Budapest and Naples airports and we are in the process of selling Stansted Airport.

“The BAA name no longer fits.

“We do not represent all British airports; we are not a public authority; and practically speaking the company is no longer a group as Heathrow will account for more than 95 per cent of the business.

“Dropping the BAA name marks a symbolic break with the company of the past.

“We want Heathrow’s focus to be on its customers, to continue to improve its operational performance and to carry on investing billions of pounds in new passenger facilities.

“This summer, the Olympics & Paralympics showed the UK and Heathrow at their best, delivering a welcome of which the UK could be proud.

“Now we have to build on that welcome still further, providing a better experience to our customers every single day.”