ALMOST two thirds of flights (64 per cent) from London City Airport in 2019 could have been completed in one or two train journeys, analysis from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and environmental charity Possible has found.
As the Labour government approved the expansion of the airport’s capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers per year, analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data revealed how expansion will worsen the airport’s environmental and social impacts, while only benefitting wealthier frequent flyers.
The latest report from the UK’s government’s own Climate Change Committee (CCC) explicitly warned there should be no net expansion of UK airports.
New analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data, by NEF revealed:
- Almost two thirds (64 per cent) of flights from London City in 2019 could have been completed in a maximum of two train journeys. This suggests almost 900,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent emissions were linked to flights departing and arriving on these routes.
- An estimated 43 per cent of seats were occupied by passengers who flew at least once every two months – meaning they made six or more return trips per year.
- The median household income of leisure passengers at the airport was around 34 per cent higher than the average UK air passenger.
Dr Alex Chapman, Senior Economist at the New Economics Foundation said: “The new government is keen to cut planning red tape and get the country building but not all proposals are made equal. New developments can’t come at the expense of the climate or low-income communities.
“Our analysis shows that expansion will not only make it harder for the UK to meet its climate commitments, but it will also offer little to no economic benefit, all while damaging the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people who live nearby.”
Recent NEF analysis showed that business use of air travel had collapsed since the pandemic, and the numbers are well below their historic peak in 2006. Now, London City airport is trying to move further into the leisure travel market. But NEF research suggests only an increase in passengers travelling for business drives up economic indicators such as GDP, because any gain from tourism is offset through spending losses of outgoing tourists.
The new analysis shows that in 2022, for every two tourists that came into London through City airport, three departed,
London City airport applied to add an additional 2.5 million passengers per year to its capacity through a removal of the current restriction on flights taking-off on Saturday afternoons, and to increase the number of flights departing before 7am on weekdays.
Reacting on social media to the government’s decision, the New Economics Foundation commented: “The government’s decision today will result in millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, immediately wiping out the progress the new government made in its early decisions on renewable energy.
“This decision puts the interests of a small number of wealthy frequent flyers over the wellbeing of us all. London City Airport operates low-efficiency planes, on routes doable by train, for high-income passengers. The government is defending its decision by pointing to supposed economic benefits from the expansion. But these are little more than industry propaganda, reached by ignoring emerging trends and casting aside best practice impact assessment.”
* Read the Climate Change Committee’s 2024 Progress Report to Parliament here.
* Read the full analysis of the Civil Aviation Authority data here.
* Source: New Economics Foundation