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London City Airport submits planning application for longer opening hours

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London City Airport has submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Newham to allow for a sharp expansion in passenger numbers via longer opening hours.

The airport is asking for:

  • its annual passenger cap to be lifted from 6.5 million passengers to 9 million
  • the airport to be open on Saturday afternoons, with a closure at 6.30pm (7.30pm during the Summer for arrivals only) compared to the current 12.30pm
London City Airport expansion planning permission
  • three additional flights between 6.30am and 6.59am, Monday to Saturday, compared to the current limit of six

There will be no change to the annual flight cap of 111,000, and no change to the eight hour curfew in operation during the night.

In return for permission, the airport is offering:

  • limitations on the aircraft types which will be allowed to land on Saturday afternoons and between 6.30am and 6.59am, limiting it to specific quieter models
  • ‘improved noise mitigation’ for local residents
  • a £3.8 million Community Fund to be contributed over a 10 year period (vs the current £75,000 per year contribution)
  • plans to invest in improved public transport services – this could include improved bus connections between the airport and the Elizabeth Line and / or enhanced DLR operations in the mornings

There is no word on when, if at all, the airport will resume work on the expansion of its terminal, which was halted during the pandemic.

The London Borough of Newham is expected to open a 30 day public consultation on the proposals during January. The proposals have been scaled back following the airport’s own public consultation – the original plan was to open until 10pm on Saturday and add an additional six flights before 7am each day.

If approved, it would seem logical that BA CityFlyer would end its weekend flights from Southampton and keep its aircraft at London City Airport over the weekend, with the ability to slot in additional Saturday afternoon departures and arrivals.

Category

General

Comments (32)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Dove says:
    23 Dec23 December 14:49

    BACF are once again reducing their fleet. Pre covid they had 28 aircraft post covid 24 which is now being reduced to 20. They do not have enough cabin crew to operate their flights ( pay them a decent salary & this wouldn’t be an issue)
    A number of existing aircraft are having more seats fitted to carry more passengers. For those who worry about noise levels there won’t be an increase in the number of aircraft taking off or landing just a wider window I which to do so.

    • Neil says:
      24 Dec24 December 01:26

      What aircraft are having seats fitted? IIRC the 190 are capped at 98 seats due to LCY runway length.

    • Jack says:
      24 Dec24 December 07:57

      They can’t put more seats in due to a union agreement which states there must be under 100 seats on city flyer planes

      • Willy says:
        24 Dec24 December 09:10

        That agreement was removed during covid. The only rule now is that over 50% of the departing from uK flights must be from London city airport. Expect some aircraft to be at 108 seats by the summer with the same pitch as the old 170s

      • 1ATL says:
        25 Dec25 December 03:46

        I believe it is a CAA requirement to have 1 cabin crew member per 50 seat capacity on an aircraft. Keeping it under 100 seats therefore means the E190’s can operate with just 2 crew and is cheaper to operate. Remember how EasyJet physically removed rows of seats from their A319’s so that they could operate more flights during their crew shortages post lockdown?

  • namster says:
    24 Dec24 December 14:56

    early promises of a new terminal now terminated and as it is the current terminal is old and over crowded with no business lounge. Adding further capacity without the new terminal development , hmm

    • Lady London says:
      24 Dec24 December 21:53

      I sat on the floor last time I used London City Airport. There was simply nowhere to sit. Limited catering facilities were all full. Was a while back, can’t imagine what it’s like now.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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