Record year for London City Airport

London City Airport has announced that it handled a record number of passengers in 2008.

The London hub saw some 3.3 million passengers last year, an increase of 12 per cent on 2007 that was topped off by a ten per cent year-on-year rise in traffic in December.

There were a number of significant developments at London City Airport in 2008, including the announcement by British Airways of its plan to launch exclusive business class flights to New York from the base, which will begin in autumn this year.

In October 2008, the airport received approval for a planning application allowing it to increase flight movements from 80,000 to 120,000 per year.

Airport chief executive Richard Gooding said: "With a significant investment in facilities, a core emphasis on passenger experience and high service standards, 2008 has proved to be the most successful ever with another record year in terms of passenger numbers.

"We remain cautious about 2009's prospects until stability returns to the financial services industry and the wider economy. Nevertheless, the continued commitment of our partner airlines and our many regular users gives us continued confidence in the longer term."

Four new routes were launched from London City Airport in 2008, meaning that by the end of the year nine airlines, including Swiss, SAS and Lufthansa, operated flights to 33 destinations in the UK and Europe.

Posted by Merv, 06 January 2009 18:03

News tags

• New York
• London
• Lufthansa
• SAS
• Swiss
• British Airways