London City Airport (LCY) has gained approval from the Westminster government to raise its annual passenger capacity from 6.5m to 9m by 2031, effective as of August 2024.
LCY has requested the Civil Aviation Authority for permission to implement a lower, less steep flight path to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, which could attract low-cost carriers like easyJet and Wizz Air.
The airport, being located in an environmentally sensitive area of London, faces restrictions on operating hours, including a 24-hour flight cessation period during weekends.
While the changes aim to increase passenger numbers with fewer flight movements, concerns about weather disruptions and the terminal’s capacity for larger aircraft remain critical issues for ongoing operations.
The CEO shared: “The application to the CAA would enable LCY to reach its permitted capacity with fewer flight movements. It would open up a range of possible new routes for passengers which incentivizes airlines to modernise their fleets from older to new generation aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, which are more fuel efficient, more environmentally friendly and quieter.”
