The reason given for further months of uncertainty was the need for more research into the environmental impacts of growth – something Davies coped with in his report.
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In a statement the government said the decision has been taken along environmental grounds, with the final location decision “subject to further consideration on environmental impacts and the best possible mitigation measures”.
Cameron’s critics also suggested he wanted to delay the fiercely unpopular decision to boost the chances of the Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith in London’s mayoral race in May. However Mr. Goldsmith denied that there was any “deal” on the issue.
But the Government now says that although it agrees that the south-east needs more runway capacity by 2030, it needs time to “undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon”.
But Heathrow said it remains confident its plans meet tough environmental conditions and will move into the delivery phase.
Patrick McLoughlin said he “hoped” that the Government would be in a position to choose between the options at Heathrow and Gatwick by next summer.
A recent poll released this week suggested Londoners back expansion at Gatwick. Gatwick was seen as cheaper and less harmful in terms of noise and pollution.
Mr Goldsmith denied “holding a gun” to David Cameron’s head by promising to quit if Heathrow gets a new runway.
He has now expressed strong opposition to proposals that would involve building a third runway at the London hub.
The Government has confirmed that it needs more time to make a decision on whether to go-ahead with a third runway at Heathrow.
He also warned that IAG, the biggest airline operator at Heathrow, would consider moving its operations to either Dublin or Madrid, if a cost-effective alternative to the £17.6bn runway plan, was not introduced instead.
The cost of a third runway is estimated at £17.6 billion.
Plenty of business and union leaders will be frustrated at yet another delay to the airports’ decision.
Much of the business community has responded with predicable outrage at the decision to postpone a decision on new runways.
John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, said: “The Airports Commission, announced by the Prime Minister three years ago, made a unanimous and unambiguous recommendation in July for Heathrow expansion”.
“The country is already lagging behind global rivals with almost double our aviation capacity and far more nimble mechanisms for delivering new infrastructure”.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) described the move as “gutless”, while the Institute of Directors (IOD) said business leaders would be “tearing their hair out at the news that, yet again, a decision on expanding the UK’s airport capacity has been delayed”.
“We have always maintained that this decision is about balancing the economy and the environment”.
“We have to ask now, what was the point of the Commission if the government still fails to act?”
He added that “at the first opportunity” he would make a Commons statement on the Government’s intentions.
“We have compromised and compromised and compromised to satisfy a political agenda that makes our industry inefficient”, IAG Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said.
An earlier commission had recommended the expansion of Heathrow airport, but that has met fierce resistance from some lawmakers and environmental groups, as well as thousands of people living near the airport.
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And BIFA director general Robert Keen said: “Over the past decades, successive United Kingdom governments have shown a singular lack of vision in the face of a massive surge in air transport and consequent pressure on existing airport infrastructure in the South East”.
