London City Airport Expansion: Growth Amid Environmental Concerns

Ministers have given the green light to the expansion of London City Airport, which has left climate campaigners feeling disheartened. The airport had proposed increasing capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers annually by adding more weekend and early morning flights.

Although the government accepted the increased passenger capacity, the airport's proposal to extend its operating hours on Saturdays from 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm was rejected.

The expansion proposal has also been criticised by the Climate Change Committee, which recommended that there should be no expansion if the country is going to meet its legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050. However, London City Airport states that the expansion will align with its current goals to achieve this.

A spokesperson had initially stated that the proposal would create over 2,000 jobs, contribute over ￡700m to London's economy and improve connectivity for passengers.

Analysis from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and the environmental charity Possible revealed that many of the airport's destinations are just a train ride away. It showed that 43.7% of the airport's destinations are reachable in under five hours by train, 54.1% in under six hours, and a whopping 66.2% in under eight hours.

Popular spots like Amsterdam and Edinburgh, which made up a significant portion of flights last year—15% and 10% respectively—are easily accessible. Amsterdam is just a four-hour train journey away, while Edinburgh is a quick four hours and 20 minutes.

NEF and Possible argue that expanding London City Airport would only exacerbate its environmental and social impacts. Their analysis highlights that frequent flyers, who tend to be more affluent, make up a significant portion of passengers. They found that 43% of seats are occupied by those who fly at least every two months, with the median household income of leisure passengers being around 34% higher than the average UK air traveller.

Brookfield Aviation believes that as the industry progresses, stakeholders must work together to implement strategies that enhance travel options while adhering to stringent sustainability regulations. This collaborative effort will be vital in fostering an aviation sector that supports economic growth and environmental responsibility.