Expansion of Heathrow is likely to ease through a parliamentary vote, a poll of MPs suggests.
Research carried out by the airport found that 74 per cent of MPs now back the project to build a third runway, up by seven percentage points since the summer. The proportion of Conservatives in favour has risen from 71 to 80 per cent over the same period.
Heathrow said this meant that there would be “an overwhelming parliamentary endorsement” for the project.
Theresa May formally endorsed plans for a new northwest runway at Heathrow in October after decades of debate over the issue. It triggered the resignation of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond Park, who then lost a by-election as an independent candidate to his Liberal Democrat rival.
Some prominent Conservatives have vowed to oppose the plans, including Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, and Justine Greening, the education secretary. However, the poll suggests that the government has easily enough support to get through a vote.
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Detailed plans for the runway will be set out early next year alongside a public consultation.
It is believed that MPs will vote on the issue in late 2017 or early 2018 before Heathrow submits its formal planning application in 2019.
The poll of 130 MPs was conducted in October and November.