Expansion of Heathrow has emerged as the clear front-runner ahead of a new runway at Gatwick, according to reports.
A decision on the interminable airport expansion question had been expected at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting chaired by Theresa May tomorrow, but this has been put back to later this month.
The short pause is to allow bitterly divided Cabinet ministers to express their views on the choice between Heathrow and Gatwick.
But Whitehall sources told the BBC a third runway at Heathrow or an expansion of its existing runways are the leading options - although no final decision has been taken.
A further sub-committee meeting next Tuesday (25 October), also chaired by May, could now make the final decision.