The future of London City Airport

In August 2007 London City Airport submitted a planning application to London Borough of Newham seeking an increase in flight movements to 120,000. This increase will create an additional 1,000 jobs at the airport site. London City Airport is already the largest private sector employment site in Newham with over 2,000 people, mostly from the local area, in full-time employment as a result of the airport. Further, following the Government’s Aviation White Paper which requires airports to make maximum use of existing runways, London City Airport’s Master Plan sets out its growth and development plans to 2030.

The proposed increase in movements will not change any of the opening hours of the airport, and there are no plans to introduce night flights.

Currently some 2,000 local jobs are supported by the airport’s activity and this would increase by around 1,000 should the application be approved. The airport has a commitment to recruiting local talent, with over seventy per cent of all employees in 2006 living within a five-mile radius.

London City Airport’s commitment to the community and its sustainability agenda through programmes and events ensures that local people see the benefit of living near the airport. The growth of the airport has encouraged businesses, investors and developers to locate in east London, bringing new services and facilities to the area. A vital part of the airport’s success has been the support it receives from its neighbours. It is with this continued support that London City Airport is now in a position to develop further.