AFP - Spanish construction group Ferrovial, which owns British airports operator BAA, posted Thursday a net loss of 206 million euros during the first nine months of the year due to the weak economy.

That compared to net profit of 62 million euros (95 million dollars) in the corresponding period last year but was better than the net loss of 263 million euros forecast by analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

The company's results during the first nine months of 2008 were boosted by extraordinary transactions such as the sale of Belfast airport and the World Belfast airport retail chain.

Revenues dropped nearly eight percent to 9.05 billion euros over the comparable year-ago period while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization fell two percent to 1.95 billion euros.

The company blamed the global economic slowdown, the deteriorating construction market in Spain where a property bubble burst late last year, currency fluctuations and weak traffic at its toll-roads for the net loss.

BAA last week announced the sale of Britain's second busiest hub Gatwick to US investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners for 1.51 billion pounds following an antitrust ruling.