"Business will question whether ministers are delaying critical upgrades to our national infrastructure for legitimate reasons, or to satisfy short-term political interests.
“The Commission has said that a new runway should be built at Heathrow, and quickly. Expansion at other airports is needed too. Ministers need to stop prevaricating and get on with doing what the country sorely needs.”
Labour's Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan accused the government of "kicking the decision into the long grass to avoid embarrassing" Mr Goldsmith.
He added: “We can’t afford more dithering over aviation capacity. Businesses desperately need more airport capacity around London, and the Tories are letting them down. Gatwick stands ready to deliver it sooner, at a lower public expense and without the damaging impact of Heathrow expansion.
“We already know Heathrow can’t be the solution. The additional damage from air and noise pollution would mean more years of delay, while protracted legal battles are fought. It must be Gatwick – and we need to get on with it.”
But Mr Goldsmith, who has campaigned against expansion at Heathrow, said: "I am absolutely delighted that, after much campaigning, the Government has heard the arguments, seen sense and will judge the options against an environmental test.
"We know that any airport expansion must meet our legally binding carbon, noise and air quality limits. There can be no doubt that in a fair contest on air quality, Heathrow will not win.
"That is good news for London. We have a massive opportunity now to remove the threat of Heathrow expansion once and for all, and to press for an intelligent approach to London's connectivity."
More than 20 Chambers of Commerce earlier signed an open letter to David Cameron telling him: "Our businesses want delivery, not more reports and recommendations.”
Baroness Valentine, chief executive of London First, warned: “The decision won’t get any easier for the Prime Minister if he delays further.
"Sometimes, politicians just have to take the hard decisions as part of governing and stop procrastinating.”
