London City Airport cuts back

Not unexpectedly the owners of London City Airport (LCY) have called a halt to the expansion plans for the airport.

Calling for a rebuilt terminal, parallel taxiway and expanded aircraft parking stands the original estimate was for £350m, but this could have risen to as much as £550m with completion by 2022.

The new taxiway is structurally complete and the innovative digital control tower operated by NATS also technically finished.  Once things are back to normal aircraft movements should not be prone to any holdups.

Speaking to the London Evening Standard airport CEO Robert Sinclair said: “The airport and our shareholders remain very confident about the long-term prospects of London City and the vital role we can play in reconnecting London and the British economy as we recover from the shock of Covid-19.”

The enigma remains British Airways CityFlyer, 54% of the 2019 5m passenger throughput.  No statements, minimum routes and sustained only by LCY’s limited marketing efforts.

“The improvements in the airside area and opening up of more space in the West Wing in the last couple of years is going to be positive for the next period,” said a regular LCY user.  “Providing British Airways can get themselves organised with routes and frequencies I for one will not suffer.”

www.londoncityairport.com

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John Jones, West Ham

As a regular at the airport I for one am happy to see a slowdown in the expansion. The current lounge will suffice for some time until the numbers come back in 4/5 years time. Perhaps the airport can find the space for a premium salon within the present airside facility. It had one when it first started.