Expansion of London City Airport gets approved

London City Airport stated (04-Feb-2015) plans to expand London City Airport have been given the go-ahead. The decision, granted on 03-Feb-2015, clears the way for a GBP200 million investment that will enable the airport to operate up to a permitted 111,000 annual services, from the 70,000 at present. This new capacity will help ease the pressure on existing airport infrastructure in London and the UK while a decision is made on where new runway capacity will be delivered, and in the period before it becomes operational in the late 2020s. The plans include developing existing infrastructure to increase runway capacity, to allow more take-offs and landings at peak times and accommodate aircraft with longer-range, to open up new markets not currently served from London City Airport. CEO Declan Collier said: "The development of the airport will culminate in 2023 when, having constructed seven new aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway and terminal extensions to the west and to the east, the airport will be welcoming some six million passengers every year." [more - original PR]