INDIANAPOLIS -- BAA Limited and the Indianapolis International Airport will end their 12-year relationship a year earlier than contracted.

British-based BAA, which owns or has management contracts with several airports worldwide, was scheduled to continue its relationship with the Indianapolis airport through the end of 2008. That deal now expires at the end of this year.

According to a news release from the Indianapolis Airport Authority, BAA did not wish to continue its relationship with Indianapolis.

Control of the airport will be handed back to the authority in phases over the next few months.

In its release, the Indianapolis Airport Authority thanked BAA and credited the company with "introducing a more commercial approach" to the airport.

BAA has contracts with other U.S. airports in Boston, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.