Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government “believed in increased airport capacity”, as a deadline for approving Gatwick’s expansion.
A decision is later scheduled for this week on the question of whether West Sussex Airport can extend its two -track operations that work simultaneously.
Alexander said that the government would do “everything we can to support the sector and withdraw the growth of the brakes”.
She has a deadline on Thursday to announce if she decided to approve the request of Gatwick, allowing 100,000 more flights per year.
Gatwick wants to move its northern track, which is currently used only for the taxi or in an emergency, and says that it could be completed and operational by the end of the decade.
It would cost approximately 2.2 billion pounds sterling and would be a project funded by private.
Expansion plans are controversial and certain deputies, local authorities and residents are strongly opposed.
Alexander made his comments during a speech during the annual dinner of Trade Body Airlines UK in London on Tuesday evening.
“I have no intention of cutting the wings of anyone. I am not a kind of eco warrior honoring flights. I love flying – I still,” said the transport secretary.
Alexander also raised the issue of climate change and extreme weather events.
She said that she did not want a world to be “ravaged” by this, but wanted a world where her nieces and her nephews did not refuse the opportunity to travel.
“This government believes in increasing the capacity of airports. We are ambitious for the sector. But these strict criteria must be met if we want to balance the needs of today with the necessities of tomorrow,” said Alexander.
