The chancellor has indicated government support for a third runway at Heathrow.
Controversial expansion of the London hub is expected to be part of an agenda outlining economic growth plans by Rachel Reeves on Wednesday.
She is also likely to use the speech to provide the green light for bringing a second runway at Gatwick into regular use and for capacity growth at Luton airport.
In an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Reeves pointed to the government’s decision to expand Stansted and London City airports and said Britain was an “open, trading economy”.
Reeves dismissed critics who argued that expanding the UK’s busiest airport would bring more noise to those living under the flight path and worsen air quality in London, arguing that advances in aviation technology had made flying more sustainable.
She said that “sustainable aviation and economic growth go hand in hand” and a third runway at Heathrow “will mean that instead of circling London, flights can land” and that sustainable fuel was changing the carbon emissions from flying.
“So a lot has changed in aviation,” Reeves added. “Sustainable aviation and economic growth go hand in hand. We’re an open, trading economy. We need to bring investment in.
“I believe that clean energy, reducing our carbon emissions, is good for economic growth. We will announce our plans in due course. But already we’ve signed up [for] expansion at Stansted and City airport.
“That will be good for investment and trade in our country and also good for families wanting to go on cheap holidays.”
Reeves was challenged over whether she agreed with criticism from Labour mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan that expanding Heathrow would have a damaging impact on air quality, noise and the capital’s ability to reach net zero.
In response she said “a lot has changed in terms of aviation”, with investment in sustainable fuel and electric aircraft.
The chancellor added: “I believe that clean energy, that reducing our carbon emissions are good for economic growth.”
However, five MPs from Sussex, Surrey and Kent have reportedly called on transport secretary Heidi Alexander to delay a decision on the second Gatwick runway until the “true impact of noise” that the airport currently makes is understood.