Ryanair says easyJet will be hit by BA's Gatwick strategy

Ryanair is warning that easyJet will suffer when British Airways unleashes its new short-haul strategy for Gatwick.

Finance director Howard Millar says: "When easyJet moves over to Gatwick they are going to find themselves on a broadside from the BA franchisees."

"They (easyJet) are really going to suffer there," he maintains.

"When easyJet goes in, you're going to find all the franchisees who have a lower cost base than main line BA are going to drop their fares and they're going to put the gun to easyJet's head."

EasyJet has its main operating base at London Luton airport but plans to expand directly out of Gatwick.

It wants to make Gatwick its biggest base operating 20-30 aircraft within five years while Ryanair's UK base is London Stansted.

BA, which sold its low cost operator Go to a management buyout eight months ago, has played down speculation that it plans to re-launch a no-frills carrier out of Gatwick.

However, the UK flag carrier dropped strong hints that its "Future Size and Shape" review, due for publication later this month, will include a radical overhaul of its European short-haul operations from Gatwick.

There is speculation that this could involve slashing in-flight service levels to cut costs and enable lower ticket prices to be offered.