THE owner of Luton and Belfast International airports has agreed to a takeover by one of Europe's leading infrastructure groups.

Abertis, which is the main party behind the £551.3m approach, manages more than 1,500km of toll roads, but wants to build up its airport interests, at present based around the operation of two runways in Colombia.

TBI said the tie-up gave it the financial strength to accelerate the development of its airports.

Luton Airport is already the subject of a £30m redevelopment as TBI bids to meet increased demand from low-cost airlines easyJet and Ryanair.

The overhaul will provide Luton with room for 12 million passengers a year, although TBI is also in talks about possible further expansion at the site.