London’s city centre airport has been granted licence to increase its annual passenger cap to 9 million, by adding three more daily midweek flights.
But London City Airport, the smallest of London’s five airports, will not be allowed to extend operating hours on Saturdays after it appealed the local authority’s decision.
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The site in London’s former docks must close at 12:30pm on Saturdays, but had requested an extension to 18:30 to “enable more choice and flexibility for passengers.”
Instead, the Department for Transport (DfT) and Ministry of Housing decided the airport could operate more flights each year by extending its early operation hours.
“The Secretaries of State agree that the additional early morning flights, which would increase the total flights from 6 to 9, would cause no harm in terms of noise effects and any additional effects at that time would be mitigated in terms of the use of quieter aircraft for the 3 additional flights, as well as the enhanced sound insulation scheme (SIS),” the departments wrote in a decision letter.
The agreement to extend early operating hours based on the use of “next generation” quieter aircraft is understood to be a first in the UK.
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By GlobalDataOn Saturdays, however, the local inspectors and government ministers agreed that evidence did not show that residents would not be affected by increased noise.
“While it is not clear that the amendments would result in a significant noise effect, it is also not clear that they would not,” their letter to the airport management explained.
It went on the say that growth could be achieved without extending the airport’s hours, because although more choice for passengers would “encourage growth” the extension of hours “are not in themselves vital to unlock the potential for growth”.
Before the flights are extended, London City is required to build temporary noise barriers, which should be replaced by permanent infrastructure as soon as possible.
Despite the extensions, London City’s CEO said she was disappointed with the final decision.
“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,” Alison FitzGerald said.
