UK Approves London City Airport Expansion Plan

The UK government has approved an expansion plan for London City Airport, allowing it to increase its annual passenger capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million by 2031. The government maintained a ban on Saturday afternoon flights, overturning parts of a previous local decision but upholding the existing curfew. This decision marks one of the first major infrastructure moves by the new Labour government, which has pledged to streamline planning processes. While London City Airport welcomed the capacity increase, environmental groups and local campaigners expressed disappointment, citing concerns over air and noise pollution and potential increases in carbon emissions. The plan had initially been rejected by Newham Council but was approved upon appeal. The expansion aligns with national policy but raises questions about the commitment to net-zero emissions targets.