London airport. City take-off.

2007 May 04

London airport. City take-off. 

Following the purchase of London
City
Airport – by a consortium that includes AIG, Credit Suisse, and GE Infrastructure – the airport is negotiating with its major airlines. 

It wants them – Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, and VLM – to increase frequencies and add more routes. A boost has been AF’s decision to open a hub at City for its (Ireland-based) airline
City Jet. 

Private-jet business, which has been growing at 40%, is another focus for growth. International passengers handled at the airport totalled 1.8mn, up 24%, in 2006. The upward trend is expected to continue this year. Routes added in 2006 include
Hamburg,
Milan, Madrid,
Newcastle,
Nuremberg,
Stockholm, and
Stuttgart.     

The airport’s master plan calls for 3.5mn passengers in 2015 and 8mn in 2030, but expansion will take place without a new or longer runway or the introduction of night flights. 

Existing runways will be better utilised, and airport management will work with airlines to increase flight load factors. New aircraft parking stands are planned and the passenger terminal will be extended, with improved check-in and retail facilities.    

The Fox