Hounslow Council has a "better working relationship" with Heathrow but remains firmly opposed to expansion at the airport, its leader has insisted.
The two have been on noticeably friendlier terms recently, compared with their somewhat stormy former dealings.
In March, they even issued a joint press release from the property conference MIPIM in Cannes, where the council was promoting itself to potential investors as a gateway to London due to its proximity to Heathrow.
Teaming up like this would have been almost unthinkable just a few years ago, when the council took a much more oppositional stance to Heathrow.
It helped fuel rumours the council had withdrawn from the 2M group, a somewhat nebulous alliance of local authorities opposed to a third runway at Heathrow.
But Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran has insisted it remains part of the 2M coalition and its "better not bigger" Heathrow mantra still stands.
"Our position hasn't changed. We've always taken a pragmatic view. We have to recognise Heathrow's a big employer and brings many benefits as well as disadvantages," he told getwestlondon.
"I think Heathrow has changed and that's allowed us to ensure we work [with them] in a pragmatic way. We wanted them to finish off the work they were doing insulating schools, which they have done."
"There's a better working relationship with the new chief executive (John Holland-Kaye) and we can still work together even if we disagree," he added.
"We need to make sure we do the best for our residents. We want to reduce the noise pollution and ensure our children are educated in classrooms that are fit for purpose.
"Some councils take a different view and are less pragmatic. That's up to them."
Mr Curran's last remark may have been a reference to neighbouring Hillingdon, where council leader Ray Puddifoot has backed London mayor Boris Johnson's proposal to close Heathrow and build up to 45,000 new homes there.
Hounslow Council wants Heathrow to remain open, albeit with just two runways.
But it has teamed up with Hillingdon Council to oppose a planning application which would enable more departures over Cranford - something which is currently the subject of a public inquiry after councillors in Hillingdon last year rejected Heathrow's application to build new taxiways.
