London City Airport, located in the central area of the British capital, confirmed that it will appeal a decision by the Newham Council in London to reject a request to increase the number of passengers at the location, as well as to change operating hours.
As reported by our affiliated media, Aeroin, the agreement would imply the authorization of newer, quieter models with low carbon emissions to operate for extended periods, which would benefit, for example, the Embraer E2 jets, already certified at the airport.
In December 2022, the London City Airport submitted its proposal to increase the annual passenger limit from 6.5 million to 9 million, allow flights on Saturday afternoons until 18:30 in the summer, and add three more flights in the first half-hour of operation during the week, without increasing the currently permitted annual number of flights.
However, the London Council rejected the application considering the local residents and noise impact prevention. Currently, there is a curfew on flights from Friday afternoon until 12:30 on Sunday. In addition, objections have been raised about the increase in carbon emissions.
In a statement, the London City Airport said that the decision had not adequately balanced the impacts with the numerous benefits of the proposals. It is estimated that they would generate an additional 4,500 jobs in London, contribute an additional 702 million pounds to the local economy’s gross added value, and improve connectivity and passenger choice, allowing airlines to serve new routes.
Robert Sinclair, CEO of LCA, commented: «We believe that the decision of the Newham Council was incorrect. If the appeal can be determined soon, airlines can progress with the renewal of the fleet for newer, cleaner, and quieter aircraft, offering more options for passengers, more jobs for the local population, and reducing the overall noise impact as early as next summer.»
Tom Stoddart, CEO of BA CityFlyer, one of the largest operators of Embraer jets, also spoke about the case, praising the advantages that the proposed extended schedule for Saturday afternoons would present. He affirmed that a good decision would help boost investment in new and more efficient aircraft, bringing benefits to the local community. Currently, the British Airways subsidiary operates twenty 98-seat E190s.
Now, the London City Airport awaits to see if its appeal is accepted, which could trigger a significant change in the aerial infrastructure in the United Kingdom.
