Disposal of UK Airports

National Express Group PLC
19 February 2001

                                                             February 19, 2001

                          National Express Group PLC

                           Disposal of UK Airports

National Express Group PLC ('National Express') announces the disposal of East
Midlands International Airport Limited and Bournemouth International Airport
Limited, (the 'UK Airports'), to Manchester Airport.

The consideration is £241.0 million in cash, including the repayment of £66.3
million of loans to National Express. The disposal will be immediately
earnings enhancing. Proceeds from the disposal will be used to reduce net debt
and to fund the future development of National Express.

The transaction is conditional upon clearance by the OFT.

In the year ended 31 December 1999, the UK Airports made an operating profit
of £12.9 million on turnover of £33.9 million. Net assets as at that date were
£123.8 million. National Express acquired its UK Airports for a total
consideration of £34 million and has invested a total of £80 million since
acquisition. Passenger numbers for East Midlands and Bournemouth airports were
2.2 million and 273,000 respectively for the year ended 31 December 2000.

Commenting on the disposal, Phil White, Chief Executive of National Express,
said: 'We received considerable interest in our UK Airports and we are
delighted that they are being acquired by an operator with a high reputation
and considerable expertise in this area. Due to the expansion of the Group
over the last 18 months, our UK Airports have become less core to the Group
overall. This disposal is part of our strategy to focus on our core transport
operations, both in the UK and overseas.'

National Express will announce its preliminary results for the year ended 31
December 2000 on Wednesday 21 March 2001.

  * E N D S -

For further information:

Phil White, Chief Executive

William Rollason, Finance Director

Nicola Marsden, Director of Group Communications

National Express Group PLC                    020 7529 2000


Mark Preston, Managing Director

Kevin Smith, Managing Director

Merrill Lynch                              020 7628 1000


Richard Mountain/Fiona Noblet

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