The government had promised to make a decision this summer on whether Heathrow or Gatwick should be allowed to build a new runway.

But that decision has been thrown into doubt following the vote to leave the EU on Thursday.

More than 50 bosses, from firms including Land Securities, Canary Wharf Group and Legal & General, have published a letter in The Times urging that the government “must prioritise a decision on a new runway without further delay and act to secure our future as a global trading nation”.

“Brexit creates a new urgency for another runway, with the need to quickly secure new connections and trading partnerships with growth economies such as Brazil and China, as well as help to send a message that Britain is open for business”.

The letter points out that it has been a year since the Airports Commission made its final recommendation that a third runway should be built at Heathrow.

“A further delay will only do more harm to our international competitiveness. We therefore urge the cabinet to make a final decision about where to build a new runway as a matter of urgency,” said the business leaders in their letter.

The runway decision has been complicated by the resignation of prime minister David Cameron on Friday and the fact that one of the leading contenders to replace him, former London mayor Boris Johnson, is a vocal opponent of expansion at Heathrow.

ITT chairman Steven Freudmann has also called for Cameron to make a decision on a new runway before he leaves office in the autumn.

“I am hoping that Cameron will make a decision during his last three months in office. We have assumed that the delay in this decision was due to the EU referendum,” added Freudmann.