BAA competition hearing set for October 19

* Four days set aside for hearing

* Ryanair to intervene in support of commission

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - The Competition Appeal Tribunal has set October 19 as the hearing date for BAA to appeal a decision requiring it to sell three of its UK airports.

BAA, majority owned by Spain's Ferrovial (FER.MC), is disputing the ruling on the grounds that it was affected by apparent bias, and that it did not take into account the tough economic conditions.

BAA has claimed that one member of the Competition Commission panel was apparently not independent enough to participate in ruling on the break-up of BAA.

Four days have been set aside for the tribunal hearing, which will include representations from Ryanair (RYA.I) in support of the Competition Commission, a spokesman for the commission said.

In December last year the commission ordered BAA to sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports, in that order, within two years. [ID:nLH253831]

BAA is in the process of selling Gatwick. (Reporting by Ben Deighton; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)