Fall in number of people opposing air travel on environmental grounds

Findings of British Social Attitudes Survey coincide with years of lobbying and government U-turn on Heathrow expansion

The number of people opposed on environmental grounds to expanding airports and travelling by plane has dropped sharply in recent years, according to government research.

In 2010, a narrow majority backed unlimited plane travel if it meant building new runways, but more than twice as many people now prefer airport expansion to curbs on demand.