A decision is expected later this week on whether Gatwick airport has won permission to expand its operations.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has a deadline of Thursday to announce whether she has decided to approve Gatwick’s plan for a new runway.

The Civil Aviation Authority made the comments as it announced support for the West Sussex airport's proposed new commitments over the next four years

Commitments made by Britain's Gatwick Airport over a price cap it charges airlines and improving service targets for the next four years are set to be accepted by the aviation regulator, it said on Tuesday.

It’s a big week for Gatwick, which will find out whether the government will support its plans to almost double passenger numbers by bringing its standby runway into permanent use

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has a deadline of Thursday for her decision on whether to approve Gatwick's plan to bring its emergency runway into routine use.