The UK government is to defer a decision on airport expansion until the new Conservative Party leader is elected, Reporters understands.
It makes a promised decision this year much less likely.
Campaigners had said the Brexit vote “must cast doubts” on whether Heathrow Airport would get a third runway.
But on Thursday, a Heathrow spokesman said expansion “must be a key building block in the government’s Brexit plan” if the UK wants to be confident.
“It will allow British exporters to trade with all the growing markets of the world, strengthening Britain’s position as one of the great trading nations,” a Heathrow spokesman said.
