Bigger-Jets Plan to Fuel City Airport's Growth
Posted on: Wednesday, 17 May 2006, 18:04 CDT
By Robert Lea, Evening Standard, London
May 17--Up-for-sale London City Airport is to introduce it biggest jet aircraft yet in a move that could transform the Docklands airport.
It has emerged that London City, the favoured link for Europe-hopping Canary Wharf bankers, has been trialling the Airbus 318, capable of carrying 132 passengers. This is far bigger than the small commercial aircraft and executive jets that fly in and out of the size-constrained airport at present.
The plane could transform City Airport's traditionally business-focused customer profile and attract airlines such as British Airways or easyJet to Docklands to fly as far afield as eastern Europe.
Richard Gooding, the airport's managing director, said: "The A318 helps secure the long-term development of London City Airport, which is expected to quadruple in throughput." City Airport currently handles nearly two million passengers a year, and growth to a capacity of more than seven million is much more than previously thought.
Upward revision of growth estimates follows the airport's connection to the Docklands Light Railway. Apart from serving the ever-expanding financial community at Canary Wharf, it is expected to play a key role in the 2012 Olympics and will also have an increasing focus with the development of the Thames Gateway and the Crossrail train links.
The airport is trying to head off local opposition to the arrival of a mainstream jet aircraft -- which has passed steep-approach airworthiness certification tests -- saying Airbus has developed ultra-low noise characteristics for the A318.
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Source: Evening Standard
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