Willie Walsh ponders Irish British Airways growth

The boss of IAG, parent company of Aer Lingus and British Airways (BA), has said he could seek to expand BA in Ireland if the British government “twiddles its thumbs” over a third runway at Heathrow.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, which also owns Iberia, said the firm could focus on growing its business from Spain or Ireland rather than London.

His comments come after the British government said a final decision on whether to build a new runway at Heathrow Airport has been put off until at least next summer.