In a move that has sparked disappointment among environmental activists, the UK government has sanctioned the expansion of London City Airport. This decision will enable the airport to boost its annual passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million, by increasing the number of flights during early mornings and weekends. The approval comes despite opposition from local residents, Newham Council, and climate campaigners, who raised concerns about the potential rise in air and noise pollution and the impact on carbon emissions.
The announcement was made on Monday by Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary. They argued that the expansion would not significantly harm the local area through added noise pollution and was a response to the anticipated growth in flight demand. Moreover, they maintained that the expansion aligns with the nation’s climate policies.
However, the government has not fully acceded to the airport’s requests, notably rejecting the proposal to extend operational hours until 6:30 pm on Saturdays. Currently, the airport ceases operations at 12:30 pm on Saturdays.
Recent analysis by The Guardian revealed that over half of the flights departing from the airport last year could have been completed within six hours by train. This comes at a time when the Climate Change Committee has advised against any net expansion of UK airports to meet the 2050 net-zero emissions target.
Despite this, London City Airport is not alone in its ambitions to grow. Other major airports like Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and Stansted are also seeking to expand, with the Labour government adopting a relatively lenient position, especially regarding Heathrow’s new runway proposal.
Critics of the decision, including Alethea Warrington from the climate charity Possible, have expressed their frustration, arguing that the expansion caters to a minority of private jet users at the expense of the environment and public health. Johann Beckford of the Green Alliance thinktank echoed these sentiments, highlighting the contradiction between the government’s climate commitments and its approval of the airport expansion.
Alison FitzGerald, the CEO of London City Airport, welcomed the decision to increase passenger numbers but expressed disappointment over the rejection of extended Saturday operating hours. She argued that this decision would delay the introduction of cleaner, quieter aircraft, which would have benefitted local residents throughout the week.
The government’s approval of London City Airport’s expansion has ignited a debate on balancing economic growth with environmental and community health, setting a precedent for future decisions on airport expansions across the UK.
News Team
