Airport loses bid to allow Saturday afternoon flights
The government has approved London City's request to increase annual passenger numbers
Last updated 20th Aug 2024
An airport has lost its bid for flights to be allowed on a Saturday afternoon.
London City had wanted to extend a 12.30pm curfew to 6.30pm, but the Government rejected the request.
Bosses at the site in Newham say they had committed to only flying cleaner and quieter aircraft.
They have been allowed to increase annual passenger numbers from 6.5 million to nine million.
Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, said: "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."
The decision to allow an increase to passenger numbers has been criticised by climate campaign group, Greenpeace, who described it as a "surprising misstep" by ministers.
A post on X added: "It will also mostly benefit an ELITE of wealthy frequent fliers while dumping the environmental costs on some of London’s POOREST neighbourhoods."