Labour gives green light to London City Airport expansion

The Labour government has given the green light to allow London City Airport to expand its passenger numbers by more than a third, in one of its first major decisions intended to boost growth since taking office last month. The government confirmed on Monday that it would allow London’s smallest airport — popular among business travellers because of its proximity to the City of London and Canary Wharf financial districts — to increase its annual passenger capacity from 6.5mn to 9mn by 2031. It will be able to fly three extra flights in the first half hour of operations during the week to help accommodate the expansion.  Ministers, however, refused to give the go-ahead for additional flights on Saturday afternoons from 12.30pm until 6.30pm, and stipulated that quieter aircraft should be used for any additional morning flights.  The approval comes after Newham Council, the airport’s local authority, last year blocked the expansion request over concerns around the impact of noise pollution and other environmental impacts from the extra flights. The airport appealed against the decision, which was approved on Monday by Angela Rayner, secretary of state for housing, and Louise Haigh, transport secretary. According to the decision, the additional morning flights would cause “no harm in terms of noise effects, and any additional effects at that time would be mitigated in terms of the use of quieter aircraft for the three additional flights, as well as the enhanced sound insulation scheme”. It added there would be “no conflict in terms of national policy” on air quality.<br/>