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London City Airport

Volume 502: debated on Monday 7 December 2009

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of (a) aircraft movements and (b) passengers at London City Airport in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. (303849)

The Department for Transport’s latest published forecasts of aircraft movements and terminal passenger numbers at airports in the UK are presented in “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts”, January 2009. This is available at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/

The Department’s latest forecasts of air transport movements are given in table G8, page 141 of “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts”. The central estimate for the number of air transport movements at London City airport in 2015 is 92,000 an increase of 28,000, or 44 per cent., over the 2010 estimate.

The Department’s latest forecasts for airport terminal passengers are given in table G3, page 135 of “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts”. The central estimate from the Department’s forecasts for the number of passengers using London City airport in 2015 is 3.7 million passengers per annum (mppa), an increase of 1.4 million passengers, or 68 per cent., over the 2010 estimate.

The above estimates only include scheduled passenger services. The Department has not modelled unscheduled business jet charters and air taxis at London City airport. The model currently underestimates scheduled air traffic movements at London City airport. Table 2.4, page 34 of “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts” provides a comparison of modelled and actual air transport movements. For larger airports, such as Heathrow and Gatwick, modelled and actual figures are within a couple of per cent. of each other. Moreover, the forecasts in “UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts” fulfil their intended purpose—to inform and monitor long term strategic aviation policy. We currently expect to publish updated aviation forecasts in 2010.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on aircraft noise at London City Airport. (303850)

No formal representations have been received on aircraft noise at London City airport. However early next year, the airport will be required to submit a draft strategic noise action plan to the Secretary of State for consideration for formal adoption under the European Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC). If the requirements are met, the Secretary of State for Transport will recommend to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the action plan should be adopted. The airport is currently conducting a public consultation on its draft noise action plan. This consultation closes on 15 January 2010.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the level of noise nuisance arising from aircraft using London City Airport; and what changes in that level have been recorded in the last 10 years. (303852)

Responsibility for monitoring the noise levels of aircraft operating at London City airport rests with the airport operator. Under local planning agreements with the London borough of Newham, the airport is required to produce noise exposure contours on an annual basis. These are published on the London City airport consultative committee’s website.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) jet and (b) propeller aircraft (i) arrivals and (ii) departures there have been at London City Airport in each of the last 10 years. (303853)

The following tables show the number of jet and propeller aircraft arriving and departing London City airport from 1999 to 2008:

(i) Air transport movements: Arrivals

Number

Jets

Propellers

Total

1999

8,993

11,746

20,739

2000

8,049

16,460

24,509

2001

7,769

19,123

26,892

2002

6,552

19,932

26,484

2003

6,227

17,800

24,027

2004

7,469

19,134

26,603

2005

10,907

19,448

30,355

2006

12,358

20,728

33,086

2007

19,163

19,475

38,638

2008

24,502

17,514

42,016

Total

111,989

181,360

293,349

(ii) Air transport movements: Departures

Number

Jets

Propellers

Total

1999

8,988

11,758

20,746

2000

8,033

16,462

24,495

2001

7,749

19,122

26,871

2002

6,537

19,935

26,472

2003

6,205

17,787

23,992

2004

7,465

19,131

26,596

2005

10,892

19,446

30,338

2006

12,336

20,707

33,043

2007

19,180

19,456

38,636

2008

24,560

17,498

42,058

Total

111,945

181,302

293,247

Source: Civil Aviation Authority.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has had discussions with the London Borough of Newham in connection with proposals to increase aircraft movements at London City Airport. (303854)