No-frills airline easyJet was today meeting European Commission officials to demand the right to take over spare capacity at Gatwick airport.

EasyJet wants to use some of the slots left free by national carriers such as British Airways in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US.

The move follows similar calls by both Go and Irish budget airline Ryanair, which wants slots at both Gatwick and Heathrow.

EasyJet chief executive Ray Webster was flying to Brussels to present his case to EC transport commissioner Loyola de Palacio.

His move will put easyJet in conflict with BA, which wants the Commission to relax its "use-it-or-lose-it" rule.

This forces airlines to give up any slot not used for 80 per cent of the time, but BA feels it should be waived until passenger numbers rise back to normal levels.

EasyJet argues that while transatlantic routes should be safeguarded, such a move within Europe would amount to an unfair state subsidy.

Mr Webster said BA was trying to hold on to the slots to stop low-cost airlines developing.

He added: "They know they have no future in continuing to develop European operations."

EasyJet began flying from Gatwick two years ago, and currently operates four services to Amsterdam, Nice, Geneva and Barcelona.

A spokesman for the airline said it would ideally like to replicate the routes it already runs from its base at Luton airport.

The move reflects the confidence of the low-cost airlines in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US.

A BA spokeswoman said the airline felt it was right to ask for a relaxation of the use-it-or-lose-it rule given the current economic uncertainty.