Another runway should be built at Gatwick, according to Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson.

Sir Richard, who was today due to fly out to the southern Iraqi city of Basra on a Virgin aid relief flight, said three more runways would be needed in the South-East, one at Gatwick, one at Heathrow and another elsewhere.

His prediction came as he spoke of Virgin's bid for the British Airways Concorde fleet.

He also described the recent Sars outbreak as more damaging to the aviation industry than the war in Iraq.

Speaking at the Aviation Club in London, he said the virus, which is wreaking havoc across the Far East, "had sprung from nowhere".

"If anything, Sars is causing more pain than the war. At least we all knew the war was coming and we are very thankful that it was over relatively quickly."

The entrepreneur also spoke of Virgin's bid for the Concorde fleet, which is to be withdrawn from operation by October.

Sir Richard said he was surprised by references to his offer to buy the seven-strong fleet for its original asking price - £1 - as a stunt.

"If BA wants to stop flying Concorde, that is its commercial decision.

"But in the circumstances, why should that stop someone else from having a go at keeping this beautiful aircraft in the air?"

Sir Richard said he had written a letter to the chairman of BA, Lord Marshall, to ask for a copy of the Concorde fleet's figures.

He said: "With Virgin Atlantic's lower costs and marketing flair, there must be a good chance that we could make a go of it."

But in response, Lord Marshall said an in-depth review with the manufacturers of Concorde had made it clear the plane could not be run by any operator.

Sir Richard's determination to keep Concorde in the skies came as he announced Virgin Atlantic had made a loss in the year ending April 2002, the first time for a decade.

But the self-made businessman said Virgin Atlantic's decision to downsize by 15 per cent in the wake of September 11 terror attacks had helped the company recover.

Exhibitions on Gatwick runway expansions plans are being staged at The Hilton Hotel at Gatwick tomorrow between 10am and 8pm and the following day between 9am and 6pm.

Then the roadshow will move to Crawley's Arora International Hotel on Saturday, May 31, between 9am and 6pm.

Admission is free and the public is invited to comment on the proposals before the end of June. The Government will then produce a White Paper on the expansion options.