The timing of the expansion of Stansted airport was thrown into doubt on Tuesday as opponents went to the high court to seek to overturn the government’s recent backing for raising the limit on flights.

Airlines operating at the airport, led by Ryanair and EasyJet, as well as local campaigners, have also written to ministers seeking to postpone by up to a year the opening of the planning inquiry into BAA’s plans to build a second runway and terminal at Stansted.