Gatwick operator "highly incompetent" says Branson
Virgin Atlantic is refusing to pay BAA in full after the runway closure at Gatwick last week.
Richard Branson labelled the airport operator "highly incompetent" for failing to predict the cold weather and de-ice the runway in time for the morning flights.
Virgin said the resulting costs could reach £100,000 which it will deduct from its next payment to BAA.
"Thousands of our passengers were disrupted and, while our teams looked after customers and offered refunds and hotel rooms, our costs increased sharply as a result," said Mr Branson.
"BAA will have to pick up these costs as it created the problem in the first place."
According to Virgin, some passengers in the Caribbean, Las Vegas and Orlando had to be accommodated in local hotels.
A spokesman for BAA said: "Following the runway closure at Gatwick on December 11 we apologised to our passengers, airline and business partners for the considerable inconvenience and disruption caused.
"Our top priority in such situations is always the safety of our customers, employees and other airport staff and we have a range of contingency plans in place, including the onset of inclement weather.
"These plans are developed and jointly owned with our airline and other business partners.
"Following the closure our teams worked hard in challenging circumstances to reopen the runway as soon as it was safe to do so.
"We are now working with our airline partners to conduct a detailed review."
www.virgin-atlantic.com www.gatwickairport.com