The additional £3.7m is being made available to support airports in reducing journey times, pollution and flight delays. The government said this funding is in addition to the £5.5m investment announced last year.

Combined, the two sums are intended to drive progress in redesigning the UK’s ‘motorways in the sky’ for the benefit of passengers, airports and the communities surrounding them. Reducing aviation emissions is also an important part of the government’s stated commitment to reach net zero.

The funding is designed to support airports to develop new, more efficient flight routes that make use of modern technology, such as performance-based navigation, which will enable aircraft to fly more precise routes. The public money is being provided on an exceptional basis while the sector recovers from the impacts of the pandemic.

Aviation minister Robert Courts announced the funding boost from London City Airport, one of the airports to receive a share...