Plan approved to Expand London City Airport  

 

A £220 million plan to expand London City Airport has been given the all-clear, that will allow the airport to increase its number of permitted flights from the current 70,000 up to 111,000 annual flights.

Newham Council said a decision is still awaited regarding where new runway capacity will be delivered. The plans include, a noise barrier, flight restrictions and soundproofing packages for residents, which will benefit from the creation of 1,500 new jobs.

The plans include increasing runway capacity by developing existing infrastructure. Achieving this enables London City Airport to support more takeoffs and landings at peak times and it also permits accommodating the next generation of aircraft. These quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft have longer ranges and will offer carriers connection capabilities to new markets and destinations that are not currently served by the airport.

"The expansion of the airport will be finished in 2023 when, having constructed a parallel taxiway, seven new aircraft stands, and terminal extensions to the east and to the west, the airport will be able to welcome an estimated six million passengers per year," said Declan Collier, CEO of London City Airport.

Business travellers represent around two thirds of passengers to London City Airport, mostly due to the convenient connections to Europe's largest commercial centers.

A total of 68% of Newham residents were backing the expansion plans according to a recent Com Res survey, while another 20% were neutral. 84% of those questioned believed that the airport brings mostly benefits to the region.

This new capacity aims to take some pressure off existing UK airports and infrastructure, especially London.