Birmingham International Airport hopes to reopen tomorrow following yesterday's jet crash in which five Americans died.
Air accident investigators are continuing to search the scene where the private jet crashed in flames.
The airport is due for an inspection by staff tomorrow morning and it is believed the runway will reopen to planes soon after first light.
Two company executives and three flight crew died when the Challenger jet crashed and burst into flames just after midday.
The airport's managing director, Mr Brian Summers, says the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected to continue combing the airport for a number of days but flights should resume in the morning, pending early safety checks.
"We are working on the basis that they [the AAIB] will be able to return to us sufficient area of the crash site so we can reopen the airport.
"We will get as much of the clear-up operation done tonight as possible but we are not prepared to risk anything and we want to see a daylight check before flights resume."
More than 20,000 passengers and 175 flights were disrupted today by the closure of the airport as departures and arrivals were diverted to nearby flight centres.
PA