+ COMMENT: What next for London City Airport?

The authorisation by the government for an increase in future passenger numbers at London City Airport (LCY) is bizarre.  But what next for the airport?

LCY has been granted passenger uplift from 6.5m to 9m per annum and three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week. In the meantime a major upgrade to the departure lounge has been completed (Added 5 September 2024)

The OK for an increase to 9m annual passengers is somewhat a hypothetical target some years away.  According to the latest CAA figures (for May 2024) passenger numbers for that month were only 3% more than the previous year, with the annual throughput for 2024 not likely to top 3.4m.  The record 2019 figure was 5.1m passengers.  At the current 3% growth it would take 35 years for the need to ask the government again”.

“A request was turned down for more flexibility with the airport Saturday opening hours.  It would have been beneficial for the resident airlines without increasing the number of actual aircraft movements.  I find the decision bizarre.  Is this some sort of appeasement to London Mayor Sadiq Kahn by the incoming government?”

Whilst award winning, and with more European destinations than either Gatwick or Heathrow, London City Airport is struggling for passenger numbers, not helped by a downturn of business traffic from Canary Wharf, and the lack of a railway station for the Elizabeth Line which passes nearby. There is no bus service to Custom House ExCel which offers the new cross London line.

Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor-in-Chief of Travel News Update, is considered the authority on the airport, and author of its official history.   Click here for a FREE PDF Version.

SEE ALSO New boss at London City Airport.

LONDON CITY AIRPORT OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

London City granted passenger uplift from 6.5m to 9m per annum and three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week.

Proposals to extend operating hours on Saturday afternoon rejected.

The Government has today approved London City Airport’s plans to increase its annual passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers and to fly three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week.

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 that would have enabled more choice and flexibility for passengers.

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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• LCY’s Planning Application documents can be found here: https://www.londoncityairport.com/corporate/corporate-info/future-airport-and-planning
• Decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a recovered appeal can be found here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recovered-appeal-london-city-airport-hartman-road-silvertown-london-e16-2px-ref-3326646-19-august-2024
• For more information, please contact:  Media@londoncityairport.com

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READERS' COMMENT

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 200 words maximum

Linda Smith, Zurich - Switzerland

I am a regular user of LCY and far prefer it to Gatwick and Heathrow, particularly with quick access to central London even allowing for the DLR not going any further than Bank. The lack of a Elizabeth Line stop at Silvertown, where I first used to catch a train on the old North London Line, is very strange. Did the airport lobby for it? Is the airport going to lobby for it? If it is ever to get anywhere near the legal 9m passengers that station is essential. The walk is less than some of the gates at Gatwick North from that airport’s station!

Phil Jones, West Ham

I guess that London City Airport will appeal but find the situation very odd. The local council gave permission for the parallel runway and terminal expansion. Why this change of mind? It seems to me obvious that British Airways will not invest in quieter aircraft until it knows that full use can be made. The airport is being held to ransom by a small group of Greens.