The Mayor of London has criticised London City Airport’s plans to expand, arguing that they are not compatible with the drive to net zero.
Mayor Khan said he was ‘disappointed’ by the airport’s plans to increase its flight schedule. He said they had not demonstrated that these plans were in line with London’s environmental objectives.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: ‘London City Airport must takes its environmental responsibilities and its impact on Londoners seriously. It is essential the airport recognise that unfettered growth is not an option and that it must be proactive in addressing its noise, air quality and carbon impacts.’
In response, a London City Airport spokesperson said that their plans benefit the economy and the environment.
‘From an economic perspective, demand for air travel is increasing and we want to accommodate that growth over the next decade while maintaining the speed and convenience that people value while travelling through London City,’ they said.
‘Our plans will boost connectivity, encouraging further investment into sectors across the London economy from hospitality and tourism to fast growing industries such as life sciences and gaming.
‘Our proposals also benefit the environment. We are incentivising the introduction of cleaner and quieter aircraft. We are committed to increasing the number of passengers using public transport to travel to and from the airport. We have also committed and produced plans to become a net zero airport by 2030 in line with the Mayor’s objectives.’
