GATWICK airport will keep its links to British Airways with its new short-haul operation, as the UK flag carrier goes on a hiring spree to take the fight to budget carriers from the West Sussex base.

The deal means Gatwick will host BA, EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz flights, keeping price competition strong for short-haul at the base.

BA is also looking to hire 4,000 new staff members by mid-2022.

BA will advance plans for a shorthaul unit from Gatwick after pilot and crew unions backed the idea.

Luis Gallego, CEO of BA's owner IAG, told Bloomberg the airline still had to negotiate with ground staff.

"If we can close all of that we will start flying... in March 2022." he said.

(c) 2021 City A.M., source Newspaper