London airport to fly millions more each year – but Saturday ban remains

London City Airport is set for millions for passenger (Picture: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

London City Airport has won its bid for a new, higher passenger cap allowing millions more to take off from the transport hub.

The move means the east London airport’s passenger cap will increase from 6.5 million to 9 million.

The 2.5 million increase will happen by 2031, and City will be allowed to fly three extra flights during the first half hour of weekday operations.

Airport bosses welcomed the decision by the government, while campaigners condemned it, with Greenpeace describing it as ‘a surprising misstep.’

However, the controversial bid to extend its Saturday operation hours until the afternoon was rejected.

Campaigners against the airport’s plan, HACAN East, said this was ‘a big win for residents’ after concern for noise levels.

London City Airport is located in the Royal Docks in east London (Picture: Sam Bagnall/LAT Images)

The airport has to close at 12.30pm on Saturday, but bosses had requested to allow flights until 6.30pm, saying it would enable ‘more choice and flexibility for passengers.’

Rokshana Fiaz, the mayor of Newham, said she was ‘delighted’ over the government’s decision the bid would ‘create a material noise impact leading to significant harm.’

The airport has had a 24-hour curfew in place from 12.30pm on Saturday until Sunday for the past 38 years.

Alison Fitzgerald, the 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.’

Despite the higher cap, the maximum number of flights allowed each year remains unchanged at up to 111,000 a year.

The new cap will be met by an increase in number of flights from 6am to 9am, but with the condition that quieter planes are used during these hours.

Greenpeace criticises the City Airport plan

The environmental campaign group said the government’s decision to allow the new cap is a ‘surprising misstep’ which is ‘undermining UK’s climate leadership.’

It said the decisions will benefit the ‘elite of wealthy frequent fliers while dumping the environmental costs on some of London’s poorest neighbourhoods.’

Greenpeace UK said: ‘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.’

It also called for ‘better and cheaper’ train travel instead of airport expansions.

It comes after a row over City Airport’s expansion plans which were submitted to Newham Council, and sparked opposition from the mayor and local campaign groups.

A Government spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We are committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK while protecting our environmental obligations.

‘In line with the recommendation of the independent Inspectors, Ministers have jointly approved a planning appeal submitted by London City Airport.’

A letter by Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, and Louise Haigh, the Secretary of State for Transport, confirmed on Monday: ‘They have decided to grant planning permission [to LCA], subject to revised conditions that maintain the existing Saturday curfew period.’

The airport opened in 1987 in the Royal Docks around three miles east of Canary Wharf. It boasts a single 4,948 ft runway, and it recorded 3.4 million passengers last year.

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