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City Airport expands and adds 40,000 more flights
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard09.10.08
London's City Airport is to schedule 40,000 more flights as part of an expansion plan.
Despite residents' fears of increased noise, the number of flights will increase from 80,000 to 120,000.
There are no plans to change the airport's operating hours, so it will continue to close at night and for 24 hours at the weekend.
The decision backed by Mayor Boris Johnson was made last night by Newham council. Supporters say the proposals will create 1,000 extra jobs in one of the capital's most deprived boroughs.
However, Jenny Bates, of Friends of the Earth, said: "People are so angry. They were leaving the meeting in disgust.
"Boris's support flies in the face of his commitment to reduce carbon emissions."
But a Newham council spokeswoman said: "We have listened to local residents' concerns about noise and as a result we recommend that the aircraft movements are capped at 120,000 per year.
"We have disallowed the application to increase early morning movements."
She added that the borough would benefit from extra jobs and an increased income of £26 million a year. "We will work with the airport to ensure local residents will directly benefit from the decision," she said.
There will be no second runway for the increased flights.
Reader views (7)
Newham gave the approval with flawed and made up data. But because of the gifts that City Airport gave to the Council they had no choice. If Newham tried to make City Airport keep to what they were supposed too over the last eight years maybe things would be a bit different. But Newham being what they are as most of us know, would not and could not afford to do so.
Lets see if City Airport keep to the promises they've made for the future. If history is anything to go by they will not. East & South East London is going to be so effected by this in such a bad way it will never recover.
- Barry Boy, West Thamesmead, Greenwich
It's only a matter of time before there is a pile up on a runway. Go to Gatwick and watch the planes take off and land, you are lucky if there is a 90 second gap between them when they take off and land on the one runway. Keep expanding air traffic at these different airports and it'll be a disaster waiting to happen.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Councillors never listen to the people who voted them into office,and of course they don't live under any of the flight paths so they are not affected, the only time they talk to the the people is when they want their vote.
- Ray, Enfield
Marianne from France: the word is spelt "mentioned"!
- Rob, Canary Wharf
The London City Airport was only even meant to be a small airport limited to 30,000 flights. Now it has got permission for 120,000 (same as Luton airport).
The airport has not bothered to carry out noise monitoring for the last 8 years, yet my council has not bothered action against the airport breach of planning conditions.
I am angry that none of Newham's councillors bothered to speak for residents. Even our local MP Stephen Timms is working hard for London City Airport's shareholder.
People such as me who have double glazing can still hear the airport, in the summer it is horrible because we can open our windows for the noise and the aviation fuel
- Rk, London, UK
Thanks for that Mariaane. From maddie to the airport. Is there naything you don't comment on from S W france?
- James, London
This is NOT good news. Currently City airport is the business traveller's dream: few delays, 2 minute walk to the gate, easy access and parking. I can see these going rapidly downhill as soon as 'expansion' is mentionned.
- Marianne, S W France
