Foreign secretary Boris Johnson is among Conservative MPs reportedly threatening to rebel over a third runway at Heathrow.
Prime Minister Theresa May may be forced to rely on opposition parties to pass the plan, though Labour is also threatening to withhold support, The Times reported.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling is expected to publish a revised airports National Policy Statement next week setting out the noise, air quality and cost requirements for a third runway.
A vote must be held within 21 sitting days in parliament, giving the go-ahead for more detailed plans.
Johnson remains opposed to Heathrow expansion having argued when he was the mayor of London for a ‘Boris Island’ alternative in the Thames estuary.
A two-mile runway is planned north-west of Heathrow, allowing an additional 260,000 flights a year by the end of 2025.
May was forced to allow “exceptional and limited” cabinet dissent on the issue two years ago but the vote this month will be the first time it has been before the Commons since Johnson became foreign secretary.
He remains opposed to the policy, but it is unclear whether he would vote against it or abstain, according to the newspaper report today.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell also opposes expansion of Heathrow, which is in his constituency, so Labour is unlikely to whip in favour of the plans but could offer a free vote.
A Heathrow spokesman said that three quarters of MPs backed a new north-west runway.