The biggest airport expansion for 60 years will be approved today when the Government gives the go-ahead to a £9bn third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.

Ministers will attempt to appease environmental groups by pledging that the extra runway capacity will be linked to tough new emissions standards for aircraft. Only airlines that buy the most fuel-efficient aircraft will be granted additional slots.

However, the aviation industry is already committed to introducing more efficient aircraft and the runway is likely to be heavily used as soon as it opens in 2019 or 2020. An extra 600 flights a day will pass over London and tens of thousands of extra cars will add to congestion on roads near the airport, including the M4 and M25.

The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian