Speaking at the British Air Transport Association (BATA) annual lecture 2016 in London yesterday, British Airways chairman and chief executive Alex Cruz said the west London airport was the best bet for expansion.

But he added the airline may be forced to expand operations elsewhere if Heathrow demands airlines help foot the projected £16.5 billion cost of the project.

He added: “We wouldn’t react very well (to any increased cost). We would very much oppose such a move. We have an interest that the investment doesn’t make an impact on the passengers in any way or us in any way.

“We are a group and we have hub operations at at least four other airports around Europe. We have a lot of choices. We would probably not go as far as saying we will leave Heathrow.”

However, he added the airline could instead look at expanding tis operations elsewhere as opposed to in the UK.

Cruz’s comments came as the government looks increasingly likely to make an imminent decision to back Heathrow expansion.

He argued while airlines may introduce long haul routes to Gatwick, a general lack of demand from both airlines and passengers make them untenable in the long run.

Cruz said: “Experience shows that the majority of long-haul airlines that start operations at Gatwick either quit and leave London altogether or go to Heathrow as soon as possible.”

The BA boss also tackled the subject of Brexit during the lecture, saying the airline and its owner IAG did not believe there would be a huge impact in the long run.

However, he said: “In the short term we had weaker than expected trading in the run up to the vote.”

He also said the other main problem currently faced by the airline is the general uncertainty the vote has caused, as Britain, Europe and the world await the triggering of Article 50 which will kick start two years of formal negotiations.

“We just have to get on with it and see what the situation is,” he added.