Tuesday, August 20, 2024 The UK government has approved London City Airport’s request to increase its annual passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million, marking a significant expansion for the East London airport. This decision follows an appeal by the airport against Newham Council’s initial rejection of the expansion plan in July 2023.
The approval includes the addition of three extra early morning flights during weekdays but rejects the airport’s application to extend its operating hours on Saturdays. London City Airport, which serves as a key hub for business and leisure travelers in the capital, had been pushing for the capacity increase to accommodate growing demand. The airport had also sought to extend its Saturday operating hours from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm, but this proposal was turned down by the government, maintaining the 24-hour weekend curfew starting at 12:30 pm on Saturdays.
In response to the decision, Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, expressed mixed feelings. “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 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Saturday afternoons,” said FitzGerald. She added, “As the government has recognized 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.
” As part of the approval, London City Airport has committed to ensuring that only “cleaner, quieter, next-generation aircraft” will be permitted to operate during the extended early morning periods. This commitment aligns with broader efforts in the aviation industry to reduce noise pollution and lower emissions. The decision to allow increased capacity and additional early morning flights has been met with concern by local officials and residents.
Rokhsana Fiaz, the Mayor of Newham, expressed her relief that the Saturday curfew will remain in place but voiced ongoing worries about the impact of increased flights on the local community. “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,” said Fiaz. She also indicated that the council would be reviewing the decision carefully and considering all options to mitigate the potential negative effects on residents’ health and quality of life.
The government’s approval for London City Airport to increase its capacity marks a significant step in the airport’s growth plans, though it continues to face challenges balancing expansion with community concerns. The next steps will likely involve continued dialogue between the airport, government officials, and local residents to address the ongoing issues of noise and environmental impact..
