Tuesday, August 20, 2024 London City Airport’s proposal to extend Saturday operating hours has been denied, dealing a blow to its strategy for boosting leisure travel. London City Airport’s bid to extend its operating hours on Saturday afternoons has been rejected, marking a significant setback in its plans to attract more leisure travelers. The airport, located in London’s Docklands and surrounded by dense residential areas, currently ceases operations from 12:30 pm on Saturdays for 24 hours, providing local residents with a noise-free respite.
In an effort to boost leisure travel, the airport sought permission to operate until 6:30 pm on Saturdays, including an additional hour during British Summer Time. This proposal included up to a dozen extra arrivals during these extended hours. However, after a two-month public inquiry that concluded in February, the request was ultimately denied.
The refusal of this application represents a critical obstacle for the airport, which has been aiming to expand its appeal beyond business travelers to include more weekend leisure passengers. Despite the setback, London City Airport did achieve a significant victory in other areas of its expansion plans. Inspectors granted the airport permission to increase its passenger capacity from 6.
5 million to nine million annually, a crucial step in accommodating growing demand. Additionally, the airport received approval to expand its terminal, which will support the anticipated increase in pa.