City Airport expansion green light
Friday, 10 Oct 2008 09:41
City Airport has been given the green light to expand its operations by the London borough of Newham.
Take-offs and landings at the airport, located on the Thames in the Docklands area of London, are now expected to increase by approximately about 50 per cent.
Some 120,000 thousands flights are now possible, following 20 per cent growth of around 20 per cent in passenger numbers over the last year, taking the airport close to its present limit of 80,000 flights.
Passenger traffic is forecast to rise from 2.9 million to 3.2 million this year, but is forecast to be flat in 2010.
The latest change follows a week of changes in the aviation industry.
Stansted airport was granted a similar green light to expand its operations earlier in the week, and will now carry up to 35 million passengers annually.
A decision on a second runway at the site is expected to be made by the government in 2009.
BAA has also hired HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) as advisors on the sale of Gatwick airport.
The airport operator has been forced to make a sale, under pressure from the Competition Commission, which believes the monopoly the organisation presently employs in the south of England is negative for consumers.
Chris O'Toole