The London government transport secretary Heidi Alexander has approved the expansion plan for Luton Airport, but only for a new terminal rather than an additional runway.
The Planning Inspectorate recommended rejecting the proposal altogether due to environmental issues concerning the Chilterns national landscape.
The expansion aims to increase passenger capacity from 18 million to 32 million by the mid-2040s, providing up to 12,000 new jobs and £1.6bn in economic benefits annually.
Environmental groups have criticized the decision. The government maintains that boosting the aviation sector can coexist with environmental protection efforts while providing economic growth.
