City Airport faces opposition to large jet plans

Plans to fly larger aircraft from London City Airport are facing opposition from a group of politicians who are concerned about more flights, extra noise and increased emissions.

The east London airport - which already has permission to increase passenger capacity - wants approval to lower the flight approach path and accommodate planes such as Airbus A320neo.

Its bosses say bigger planes would mean it could increase passenger numbers with fewer flights than with their current, smaller aircraft. They also say the new planes will be less noisy.

But the London Assembly's environment committee is calling for any plans to be halted until "independent and real-world assessments" are carried out.

Despite opposition from local residents, the airport was given government permission in 2024 to increase passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers a year.

But in order to fly large aircraft such as the A320neo - an updated version of the Airbus A320 - a more shallow flight approach is needed, according to the airport.

This would mean planes flying over parts of east London 90ft (27m) lower than they currently do, the committee said.

In a letter to the airport's chief executive Andy Cliffe, the committee said it was "particularly concerned about the potential noise impacts" of the change.

Signed by the committee's deputy chair Léonie Cooper, the letter said the airport's projected data was "not sufficient to fully understand the noise impact, and the health and quality of life of residents living and working nearby".

"The committee therefore opposes any changes until robust, independent real-world assessments have been undertaken to understand how these changes could affect local communities in practice," the letter said.

The cross-party group also expressed concern that the change might be used to open new routes and therefore increase the overall number of flights.

London City Airport said the proposal would "unlock more destinations and support London's connectivity and economic growth".

A spokesperson said: "Larger capacity, new‑generation aircraft will mean fewer flights and less noise disturbance for local communities when compared to not making this change over the coming years.

"Our priority is to grow our airport and continue to maintain a central role in the regeneration of east London."

The Civil Aviation Authority is due to make a decision on lowering the flight approach into the airport by this autumn.

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