Airport boss got €175k rise

THE boss of Heathrow, who admitted the airport was “overwhelmed” by the pre-Christmas snow, had a £151,000 (€175,000) pay rise in 2010.

Colin Matthews, chief executive of airport operator BAA, saw his pay increase from £820,000 in 2009 to £971,000 for the year ending 2010.

BAA said he had ceased making contributions to the company’s pension scheme and that equivalent cash payments had been made to him and included in the £971,000 (€1.12m) figure.

After the chaos at Heathrow, where the bad weather led to numerous flight cancellations and Christmas getaway passengers being forced to camp overnight in terminals, Matthews said he would forego his annual bonus for 2010.