Sir Richard Branson has claimed that budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair are ‘s****ing themselves’ about Brexit, because they fear that leaving the EU would destroy their business.

In an exclusive interview with this weekend’s Event magazine, the Virgin Atlantic boss says his low-cost rivals fear losing access to European airspace and airports if Britain votes to leave.

Sir Richard said: ‘EasyJet and Ryanair are s****ing themselves about this. If we’re kicked out, technically, they would be stopped from flying all their internal routes in Europe.’

Sir Richard Branson, shown, has claimed that budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair are ‘s****ing themselves’ about Brexit, because they fear that leaving the EU would destroy their business

Sir Richard’s comments come a month after easyJet chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall warned that leaving the EU would see a return to the days when flying was the privilege of a wealthy elite.

She said: ‘How much you pay for your holiday really does depend on how much influence Britain has in Europe.’

A spokesman for Ryanair confirmed the company would campaign for Britain to stay in the EU.

But they added: 'This shows how little he knows about European aviation. Ryanair is an Irish registered airline and so any Brexit will have no effect on our freedom to fly anywhere in Europe.

'Equally since Easyjet is UK registered and the UK will still remain a member of the Open Skies agreement, Easyjet will be free to fly wherever it wishes also. Perhaps spending too much time time in the Caribbean sun is affecting his judgement.'

In his interview, Virgin Galactic space pioneer Sir Richard, 65, nails his colours to the pro-EU mast and warns that leaving could lead to the break-up of the UK.

The father-of-three said: ‘I see this as the end of Great Britain as we know it today. I think it’s that serious. Great Britain may not stay Great Britain if we leave, Scotland could well depart [the UK].

‘We could become little England.’

Sir Richard’s comments come a month after easyJet chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall warned that leaving the EU would see a return to the days when flying was the privilege of a wealthy elite