Airports operator BAA said it had no intention of dropping plans for a third runway at Heathrow and told IFW that the need was "as urgent as ever".
Responding to media reports and a speculation from the union Unite, a spokeswoman said Heathrow was already operating at 99% capacity and needed additional capacity now in order to respond to contingencies such as bad weather, as well as to allow growth.
"We remain convinced that a third runway is the only viable, costed and thought-through way of meeting the need for extra runway capacity to maintain this country's global connections to the rest of the world, particularly in an era where long-haul links to markets such as China and India are increasingly important," she said.
"The process of putting in a planning application is complex, particularly given new planning structures put in place as recently as 1 October."
"The process was always going to take until after the general election. We continue to work on the application and will take as long as is necessary to prepare a proper submission."
