The government has approved passenger expansion plans for London City Airport (LCY/EGLC) but stopped short of allowing extra weekend flights.
The approval means that London City can operate with up to 9 million passengers annually as opposed to the previous cap of 6.5 million.
Plans were originally rejected by Newham Council but the airport appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, which has now approved it.
London City Airport had also asked for it’s weekend curfew to be lifted but this was not approved meaning there will be no extra weekend flights and the current cutoff will remain at 1230 on a Saturday.
Alison Fitzgerald, CEO of London City Airport said: Ms FitzGerald said: “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.”
Extra morning flights between 0600 and 0900 Monday to Friday will make up the bulk of the increase in passengers.
