Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed her support for the project during a speech in Oxford on Wednesday morning (29 January).
"I can confirm this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer," she said, adding the government’s aim was for formal permission to be granted "by the end of this parliament".
"Heathrow is in a unique position and we cannot duck this decision any longer," Reeves stressed.
She continued: "Heathrow is at the heart of the UK’s openness, around three-quarters of all long-haul flights in the UK go from Heathrow."
