Ministers have approved plans for London City Airport to increase capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers a year despite objection from environmental campaigners.
The airport’s proposal to expand its operations by putting on more weekend and early morning flights has been given the green light after it was initially blocked by City Hall.
The decision was announced on Monday by Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, and Louise Haigh, the transport secretary.
London City Airport said it welcomed the increase to the passenger cap but was disappointed the government had not approved extended Saturday operating hours.
Alison FitzGerald, London City airport’s chief executive, said: “As the government has recognised in its decision, rejecting our request to extend our Saturday afternoon operating hours will slow down airlines bringing cleaner, quieter next-generation aircraft to the airport. Local residents would have had the added benefit of these aircraft operating at the airport throughout the week, not just in the extended operating hours.”
The plan was initially rejected in July 2023 by Newham Council over a range of objections such as the potential impact of the expansion on climate, air quality and noise.
Greenpeace said the move was “a surprisingly clumsy misstep” from the new Labour Government.
Paul Morozzo, climate campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said: “Not only does it undermine the UK’s climate leadership, but it will mostly benefit an elite of wealthy frequent fliers while dumping the environmental costs on some of London’s poorest neighbourhoods.”
Alethea Warrington, a senior campaigner at the climate charity Possible, said: ““London City airport’s expansion will benefit only the private jet users who fly into the airport, at the expense of more air pollution for Londoners and more emissions that harm our climate.
“The new minister for transport must explain why the government has ignored the clear scientific consensus on constraining aviation emissions – along with the advice of their own scientific advisers, the Climate Change Committee, which recommended no increase in the UK’s airport capacity – in favour of allowing more planes and more pollution.”
