The Government has approved London City Airport’s passenger uplift but rejected its plans to fly on Saturday afternoons.
London City can now increase its annual passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9 million and run three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week.
Proposals to extend operating hours on Saturday afternoons, however, were not accepted. London City requested a new closing time of 6:30pm after an extensive consultation process. The airport currently closes at 12:30pm on Saturdays.
London City’s planning application included no increase in the permitted number of annual flights or infrastructure.
It also promised that ‘only cleaner, quieter, next generation aircraft’ would be allowed to fly in any extended operating periods.
The proposal follows London City’s appeal against a planning rejection from Newham Council last year.
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.”
