Budget airline EasyJet could offer a lifeline to hundreds of British Airways workers at Gatwick who are losing their jobs.

The no-frills operator said it would need more staff as it boosted the number of aircraft flying from the airport.

EasyJet already employs more than 300 people at Gatwick but would not put a figure on the number of new jobs that could be created.

Spokesman Toby Nicols (ok) said: "We will continue to expand out of Gatwick as soon as we can get the take-off and landing slots. We would like to have 20 or 30 aircraft operating through Gatwick in five or ten years.

"If we are looking to recruit there we will look at some of the BA workers being laid off."

EasyJet is the second largest scheduled flight operator at Gatwick, flying to eight destinations. In the last few weeks it has increased the number of aircraft based there from two to six.

British Airways announced earlier this week it intended to shed 3,000 jobs at the airport, reducing its workforce from 8,000 to 5,000, and eight routes are to transfer to Heathrow.

BA's Gatwick operation has been reduced by 60 per cent since 1999.

The debt ridden national carrier said it hoped most of the job losses at the airport would voluntary redundancies.

Luton-based EasyJet, founded in 1995, plans to buy 300 aircraft in the next ten years.

GMB Union organiser Gary Smith said: "Any news of job creation is positive and we as a union have always argued that the airline industry is not in decline."