London City Airport is celebrating 26 years in business this month. On 5th November 1987, “the only airport actually in London” officially opened.
In just over a quarter of a century, the operation in London’s Royal Docks has gone from strength to strength, having seen more than one million flights and close to 40 million passengers go through the airport, including 31 flights per week currently operational from Dublin.
Just three miles from Canary Wharf and seven miles from London City, it is now the first choice London airport for business travellers, who represent 60% of total passengers using the airport.
LCY now serves 47 destinations across Europe, operated by 10 airlines, as well as a business-class only service to New York JFK.
Declan Collier, Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone, particularly as this year has been such a momentous one for LCY. We are on track to see our highest ever passenger numbers, we have added eight new routes and have submitted an application for planning permission to develop our existing infrastructure to enable us to create 1,500 new jobs, welcome next generation aircraft and double passenger numbers by 2023. The future looks very exciting at LCY.”
The proposed development plan will see the airport add seven new aircraft parking stands, extend the existing taxilane to maximise use of the runway and develop the existing terminal buildings and add a new, dedicated arrivals facility. The terminal forecourt will be developed and there are plans for a new 250-room hotel. The plans would create 1,500 new full time jobs and additional 500 jobs during construction.
