Heathrow and Gatwick bosses John Holland-Kaye and Stewart Wingate agree Britain should remain in the EU as Heathrow reports record year
Some peace has come to the skies of Britain.
The bosses of the two airports vying to become the chosen ones when it comes to airport expansion have put aside that fight to back Britain remaining in Europe.
"A vote to remain offers the best of both worlds – it secures our place as a powerhouse in the global economy, while remaining in the world’s largest free trade zone," said Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye as it released its full year results.
“Heathrow believes that the UK will be better off remaining in a reformed EU. We are the UK’s only hub airport, connecting Britain to over 80 long haul destinations, and handling over a quarter of UK exports – but we recognise that for business to thrive we also need to be part of the single European market. Membership of the EU has made air travel affordable and convenient, with regular flights to the continent from all parts of Britain – fuelling jobs, exports and economic growth."
Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate along with Holland-Kaye are among 200 top business leaders to back remaining in Europe in a letter published in the Times today.
Holland-Kaye echoes earlier comments made by EasyJet boss Carolyn McCall and TUI's former chief Peter Long, warning that flight costs will soar if Britain leaves the European Union.
Heathrow revealed a record number of passengers, 75m, flew through the airport in 2015, a rise of 2.2 per cent on the previous year. Revenue climbed 2.7 per cent to £2.8bn while pre-tax profit grew 22 per cent to £223m.