Planned changes to the Liberal Democrats’ stance on airport expansion in the southeast have been rejected.
Members voted for the current policy which specifies “no net increase in runways across the UK as a whole”.
Party leader Nick Clegg had supported amending the policy to allow Gatwick to be expanded.
But this option was rejected by members at the party’s conference in Glasgow.
Supporters of the change had argued airport expansion could take place without increasing carbon emissions, thanks to technological advances.
The airport expansion amendment was tabled by Solihull MP Lorely Burt and Stephen Gilbert, who represents St Austell and Newquay.
Airport Operators Association chief executive Darren Caplan said: “The AOA is naturally disappointed that the Liberal Democrats ‘pre-manifesto’ rules out airport expansion.
“Aviation is crucial to UK plc, supporting 1 million jobs, £50 billion in GDP and £8 billion in Treasury revenues, and the party’s position fails to realise the economic and connectivity benefits a growing aviation sector can deliver for UK plc, nor the enormous strides the industry is taking to deal with its carbon and noise impacts.
“We continue to urge the Airports Commission to stick to its timetable, report soon after the general election next year, and for the political parties to act on its recommendations, when published.”