Birmingham International Airport could soon be put up for sale following reports that the Australian bank Macquarie intends to sell its 24% stake to the West Midlands councils who together already own just under half of the airport. Experts believe that such a move would prompt the councils to consider the sale of this majority stake to a single buyer, and that Irish operator Aer Rianta, who owns the remaining 24% stake, would also sell in the face of a majority owner. The airport would be expected to fetch £1bn and £1.8bn. A small number of shares are also held in an employees share trust.