London City Airport cleared for 50% more flights

London City Airport has been given the green light to boost the number of annual flights it operates by 50 per cent, the Borough of Newham has confirmed.

Councillors insisted that there will be no increase in early-morning services, with stringent restrictions applying to any additional evening and weekend flights.

The move will see the number of aircraft movements each year rise from 80,000 to 120,000.

In addition to opening up connections to London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games, it will create around 950 jobs and is expected to generate £26 million for the local economy.

Maurice Veronique, chairman of the Guild of Travel Management Companies, told TravelMole that the extra capacity was good news for both business and leisure travellers.

"It's a sensible decision taken in the run-up to the Olympics," he said. "We are all expecting the games to stimulate the economy both in London and across the UK, so the flights are necessary and welcomed."

But environmental campaigners voiced disappointment at the move, with Jenny Bates of Friends of the Earth complaining to The Times: "It's just completely the wrong way to go – from a climate point of view and in terms of noise and pollution for the locals."

London City is currently one of the only airports in the UK that offers its passengers – two thirds of whom are business travellers – free WiFi access (see Wireless Access travel tip).

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