Two of the Midlands' biggest airports face an anxious wait following the conclusion of a planning inquiry.

The seven-month planning wrangle between Birmingham International Airport and Coventry Airport finished at Leamington Town Hall on Monday.

The inquiry was called to look into plans by Coventry for a new terminal capable of handling up to two million passengers a year.

Birmingham opposes the plans amid claims they would lead to a congested airspace which would hinder their own proposals to increase capacity.

Both airports yesterday called on the inspector to back their plans. A decision is expected in early 2007.

A spokesman for BIA said: "We have made our case that there are significant benefits for the regional economy with our plans.

"We believe that the development of Coventry could constrain Birmingham in the long term and this would cost jobs across the region."

In his closing speech on Monday, Coventry Airport's barrister Peter Village QC said its proposals increase the image and profile of Coventry and Warwickshire nationally as a tourist and business destination and the offer increased choice to local commuters.

Mr Village also said that if permission is granted, the airport will be able to operate "successfully but subject to stringent environmental controls".

Meanwhile, ambitious expansion plans for BIA will remain under wraps for another six months because of the inquiry.

A £1.5 billion blueprint was unveiled last October which included extending the runway, building a second strip and creating a third passenger terminal.

Residents were invited to have their say and it was hoped the masterplan would be unveiled at the end of this year. But the publishing date has been postponed until mid-2007 because of uncertainty over airspace issues created by the public inquiry.

Managing director Richard Heard said: "We understand the desire in the local community for certainty about our long term plans.

"But the masterplan is a hugely important document so it's vital we wait to receive a clear decision from Government."

The airport expects to handle 33 million passengers a year by 2030 and said expansion would help support 27,430 jobs and generate an extra £957 million for the West Midlands economy.

But protesters said they feared increased airport traffic would blight homes in the area a nd also damage the environment.