British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington blamed the decision to close some flights at Gatwick on the airport only having one runway.

This comes when the debate over whether Gatwick should get a second runway is still raging.

Mr Eddington said: "You cannot run a hub-and-spoke operation from a one-runway airport.

"The good thing for us about Heathrow is we have a true hub-and-spoke operation there.

"We can support our Heathrow services from our broader network much better than we can at Gatwick."

People living near the airport are strongly opposed to a second runway, saying the environmental impact and the need for new homes would devastate the area.

Crawley MP Laura Moffatt is one of those who has expressed stringent opposition.

But commercial leaders say it would provide a huge economic boost to the county.

Sussex Enterprise policy director Mark Froud said: "We believe there is a strong case for one more runway in the South-East.

"Businesses in Sussex would welcome it."