London City Airport’s proposal to increase passenger numbers and operate flights until 18:30 on Saturdays has been opposed by the London mayor's office. The airport is seeking permission
from Newham Council to increase its passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million per year and to allow up to 12 more arrivals between 18:30 and 19:30 during British Summer Time, but is not looking to increase its 111,000 annual flight limit.
The proposal also includes ending the ban on arrivals and departures at the airport between 12:30 BST on Saturday and 12:30 on Sunday. More than 500 people have objected to the plans, including Lewisham Council. Residents have expressed concerns about rising noise levels and air pollution in comments on the application.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has described the proposal as "the most substantial proposed change to the airport's operations since it first opened 35 years ago". In a letter from the council's environmental protection team, they argued that there was "no justification for ending the 24-hour ban" of flights on weekends. The council is concerned that changing the operating hours would result in more noise and air pollution for residents.
Flights taking off from City Airport travel over parts of east London including Bow and Poplar, Leyton, Leytonstone, Wanstead, Barkingside and Romford. The GLA has reported that the scheme would increase emissions of "NO2, PM10 and PM2.5", and reduce "the air quality benefits from schemes across the city, and particularly within the London Borough of Newham."
The mayor's office has declared that London must achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and the aviation sector needs to play its part and not undermine collective efforts to rapidly decarbonise. City Airport previously tried to extend Saturday flight times to 22:00, but backtracked after a public consultation last year.
The airport has said the changes would enable it to offer "more leisure routes" and bring in flights from "more distant locations". However, the deputy mayor for planning, Jules Pipe, said the proposal does not fit the London Plan. Photo by T A, Wikimedia commons.