Senior ministers are set to give the initial green light today for a third runway at Heathrow.
The economic sub-committee, chaired by prime minister Theresa May, is expected to sign off the expansion plan, and then send it for approval by the full cabinet.
If backed, MPs would then be asked to vote on the issue in the coming weeks.
The government has supported expansion in principle despite opposition from key figures such as foreign secretary Boris Johnson.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling could come forward with a statement later this week if the expansion plan is backed by the cabinet, the BBC reported.
It has to be voted upon no later than 21 sitting days after its publication.
Ministers have accepted the recommendations of the 2015 Airports Commission review into airport capacity in the south-east of England.
This concluded that building a third runway at Heathrow offered the greatest economic benefits – as long as it was accompanied by a package of measures to address its environmental and community impacts.
A draft national airports statement was approved by ministers in October setting out the conditions for its approval.
Parliament must approve the revised statement, which has since been subject to a public consultation, to allow the planning process to move onto detailed work.
But Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and Hillingdon and former London mayor, has long been opposed to Heathrow expansion on both economic and environmental grounds and has vowed to “lie down in front of bulldozers” to prevent it.
Other critics include former education secretary Justine Greening, who also represents a London constituency, and shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Heathrow’s owners say a new runway would cost £14 billion and increase its capacity from 85.5 million to 130 million passengers. It is hoped it would be operational between 2025 and 2030.