Summary Passenger numbers at London City Airport will increase to 9 million annually by 2031. Expansion plans aim to boost economic growth and tourism, utilizing modern, eco-friendly airliners. Reduced curfew hours on Saturday and operational restrictions remain a concern.
Earlier this week, the Newham Council approved London City Airport’s (LCA) bid to increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million annually by 2031 . Despite the opportunity for expansion, the new rulings kept the yearly limit of 111,000 flights at LCA.
Modern commercial airliners are cleaner and quieter, so increasing passenger numbers can be achieved without disturbing the local environment or causing environmental degradation. The authorities at LCA are excited to see how expansion plans positively impact economic growth and tourism through the airport. The expansion plan The British government has approved plans to expand capacity at LCA by 2.
5 million passengers. According to the government’s website, "The Secretaries of State agree with the Inspectors' conclusions, and agree with their recommendation. They have decided to grant planning permission, subject to revised conditions that maintain the existing Saturday curfew period.
" One way of executing the expansion plan was to push back the existing 24-hour curfew from Saturday 12:30 PM. The authorities desired to push the restriction to 6:30 PM, allowing afternoon traffic to proceed. However, the rulings in that regard remained unchanged.
The airport expressed its disappointment about its operational restrictions on Saturdays. How new changes may impact the LCA airport Under the City Airport Development Program (CADP), LCA applied to make changes to its existing planning. Three major items that LCA authorities were seeking; Increase the current planning cap on passenger numbers from 6.
5 million to 9 million per annum by 2031. Extend Saturday operating hours from the current closing time of 12.30pm to 6.
30 pm, with an additional hour in summer for arriving flights only, up to a maximum of 12. Allow three additional flights in the first half hour of operations Monday to Saturday (6.30-6.
59am) with a new limit of 9 flights, instead of the current 6 flights. The authorities at LCA airport seem to increase the current planning of flights by having up to nine million passengers each year. By 2031, the airport aims to achieve its target of 9 million passengers each year from 6.
5 million currently. The airport aims to invest heavily in its infrastructure and services. The authorities were also seeking an additional hour of curfew lifted, particularly during the summer time.
If it was even open for arriving flights only, it would cause disturbance and other issues to the public. The application requested the extension of additional three flights in the first half hour of the airport opening, enabling a total of nine flights instead of the current six. That could have eased much of the congestion in the skies over London.
London City Airport is the smallest, but most centrally located, of London’s airports. With its size and location, it has several restrictions. How the expansion plan impacts East London Any extension granted due to the LCA application, the airport will only authorize new-generation, cleaner, and quieter aircraft to operate.
These rulings will bring environmentally friendly aircraft into the city while promoting tourism to East London. Airlines will be incentivized to replace older aircraft to enjoy increased flexibility to another airport in the city’s vicinity. The airport aims to make itself home to the most modern aircraft fleet in the UK.
While mostly being operated by Airbus A220 fleet across multiple airlines, the airport aims to further its actions towards sustainability and zero emissions. The expansion plan will also enable the airport to offer a Community Fund of £3.8 million over ten years to local good causes through a trust.
The local economic market will see approximately 2,200 additional jobs across London, 1,340 of which would be at the airport itself. The city will benefit from the airport's dedicated Transport Fund to improve bus systems in the area. The aim is to connect London City Airport with local trains, including the morning DLR and the Elizabeth Line, benefiting passengers, airport staff, and local residents.
According to the spokesperson from LCA airport, recorded by The Standard , "Over half of the destinations served by the airport can be reached by train in under six hours, with Amsterdam and Edinburgh among the most popular routes. Instead of airport expansions, we need better and cheaper train travel." One particular regional jet family stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Concerns over the impact on the health of residents The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, expressed her concerns over the increased number of early-morning flights (from the existing six to nine). While Fiaz was relieved that the existing weekend curfew period of 24 hours remained in place after the ruling, she expressed deep concerns over disturbance due to additional early-morning flights. Fiaz commented, as reported by The Standard , "I remain deeply concerned that our residents will be seriously harmed by the impact of further air-flight noise with today’s decision to allow an increase in flights in the early mornings throughout the rest of the week.
We will be studying the decision notice carefully and considering all options as we remain concerned about the detrimental impacts on the health and quality of life of our residents.” The airport aims to be net zero by the end of the decade..
