The boss of budget airline Ryanair has called on the UK’s government to end uncertainty over airport capacity by authorising new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
Michael O’Leary called on new Prime Minister Theresa May to take a “radical” approach, with former PM David Cameron having postponed making a choice between Heathrow and Gatwick.
Speaking at press conference launching additional Ryanair routes and flights from Stansted, Gatwick and Luton airports, Mr O’Leary said approving three new runways rather than one “will finally resolve the runway capacity issue for the next 50 years”.
It would also ensure that competition between airports “delivers efficient facilities and prevents airlines and passengers being ripped off by gold-plated monopoly runways”.
Mr O’Leary said that expanding only one airport would allow airlines to justify increasing their prices but competition between three airports would be a boon for travellers and benefit Ryanair in the long-term.
“We’ll have more capacity to grow, fares will fall and in a declining fare environment, we’ll win,” he added.
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