England's High Court rejected a series of legal challenges against the government's plan to build a new runway at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday.

Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, is operating at full capacity.

Parliament backed a plan to proceed with an $18 billion third runway last year, but the expansion faces opposition from local communities and environmentalists.

Environmental groups and local boroughs have complained about the impact a new runway would have on air quality, climate change and noise levels.

Heathrow Airport is owned by Ferrovial, Qatar Investment Authority and China Investment Corporation among others.