Borders UK has been forced to pull out of BAA airports after failing to agree new rental terms.

The book chain, owned by Luke Johnson’s Risk Capital Partners, have been unable to come to an agreement with BAA, which runs Heathrow airport.

Borders has been reducing its store portfolio and has already closed a number of stores under its Books etc fascia.

Borders chief executive Philip Downer said: “We continue to work on right-sizing those elements of the portfolio that we have to deal with but more importantly driving sales and margins at our other stores.”

In 2007, Borders, the US-based retailer, sold a majority stake to Johnson’s Risk Capital for US$14.5m.