A local authority in southeast England has rejected a plan by British airport operator BAA to increase the number of flights at London's Stansted airport.
BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, said it would appeal against the decision to refuse its application, due to environmental concerns, to remove a cap of 25 million passengers using the airport's existing runway each year.
BAA also wants to build a second runway at the airport northeast of London, a plan that is coming under growing criticism from airlines, local residents and environmental groups.
The airport is a major hub for Ryanair.
The Uttlesford Council said planning permission to increase the use of the runway was refused due to concerns about noise pollution, air quality and climate change.
The decision followed a call by Prime Minister Tony Blair last month for urgent action on climate change and the release of the government-commissioned Stern report which warned about the cost and environmental fallout from global warming.
The UK government has backed plans for the second runway at Stansted by 2013 as part of a 30-year strategy to cope with soaring demand for air travel, particularly in England's crowded southeast.