BAA has withdrawn its planning application for a third runway at Heathrow and Stansted.
Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats oppose new runways so the move is seen as a formality now that they are in power.
Chief executive Colin Matthews said he understand the importance of government policy in a matter “as significant and controversial as runway capacity.”
But he reiterated his beliefs that new capacity would strengthen the UK’s trading links and without it London would lose out to rival European cities as a place to visit and do business.
Instead, the Conservatives proposed improved rail links with Heathrow including a new high-speed direct rail line from London to Scotland.