Controversial plans to extend the runway at Belfast City Airport are about to be given the green light, South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell has claimed.
Mr McDonnell said he believed the airport's planning application was set to be passed with the support of Environment Minister Edwin Poots.
And while planning officials said a final decision had yet to be made, Dr McDonnell predicted the controversial plan to extend the runway would go ahead without a public inquiry.
The owners of the George Best Belfast City Airport want to extend the runway by 590 metres to allow planes to fly further, opening-up new destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean.
"My information is that the minister will make a public announcement by the end of the month in relation to the Airport runway," said Dr McDonnell.
"His decision will fly directly in the face of all logical arguments against such a move put forward by a wide cross-section of the general public and by politicians from all sides of the community, including his party leader, Peter Robinson.
"The minister and his department will try and sell this scheme by stressing that it will `only be an additional 500 metres of tarmac'."
In response, the Department of Environment said: "The planning application for the extension to the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport is under consideration.
"Planning officials are processing it as quickly as it is possible to do so and it is hoped to be in a position to make a decision on the procedural route to be taken to progress the application shortly."
Residents groups in south Belfast have raised concerns over the impact of extending the runway, in terms of structural damage to homes, pollution and increased noise.
© Press Association