Willie Walsh has accused Heathrow bosses of being untrustworthy over the expansion of the airport.
The boss of the parent company of British Airways, IAG, said the potential bill for building a third runway at the base had increased to £32 billion but airport chiefs were covering it up.
Heathrow said its cost projections – £14 billion – were accurate and accused Walsh of using “misleading rhetoric”.
More: New PM urged to opt for cheaper Heathrow expansion option
Heathrow runway cost ‘outrageous’ says IAG’s Willie Walsh [June 18]
IAG boss Walsh demands greater scrutiny of Heathrow by CAA [Jan 18]
Walsh was reported in The Times as saying: “Advance costs are spiraling out of control and total expansion costs are being covered up,” he told the newspaper. “This latest development proves beyond doubt that Heathrow can’t be trusted.”
He said the airport was on a “massive gravy train”.
A spokeswoman for Heathrow said: “IAG’s misleading rhetoric won’t change history. What will change in the future is the huge increase in competition among airlines and choice for passengers that we will deliver by expanding Heathrow.”
IAG is likely to be asked to pay some of the costs for any expansion. The airline said yesterday that Heathrow was planning to ask its customers to pay £3.3 billion in advance.
More: New PM urged to opt for cheaper Heathrow expansion option
Heathrow runway cost ‘outrageous’ says IAG’s Willie Walsh [June 18]
IAG boss Walsh demands greater scrutiny of Heathrow by CAA [Jan 18]
