Aerospace

Government approves London City Airport’s passenger increase

Posted 2 September 2024

The Government has approved London City Airport’s plans to increase its annual passenger cap from six and a half million to nine million passengers and to fly three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week.

Image courtesy London City Airport

London City’s proposals to extend its Saturday afternoon operating hours were not accepted. The airport currently closes at 12:30pm on Saturdays and after an extensive consultation process, the airport had requested a new closing time of 6:30pm.

London City’s planning application included no increase in the permitted number of annual flights or infrastructure. It also included a UK airport first; a commitment that only cleaner, quieter, next generation aircraft would be allowed to fly in any extended operating periods.

Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, said: “While we welcome the approval to increase our passenger numbers, we are disappointed with the Government’s decision to reject our proposal to fly from 12:30pm to 6:30pm on Saturday afternoons.

“As the Government has recognised in its decision, rejecting our request to extend our Saturday afternoon operating hours will slow down airlines bringing cleaner, quieter next generation aircraft to the airport. Local residents would have had the added benefit of these aircraft operating at the airport throughout the week, not just in the extended operating hours.”