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London City Airport begins expansion work on Western Pier

Work has begun to reconfigure the London City Airport’s Western Pier, which houses 70 per cent of its departure gates.

Built in 1987, the airport was designed for tens of thousands of passengers, not the millions that use it today.

The new Western Pier will create a bright, open-plan space with modern seating, electronic boarding gates, workspaces, quiet areas and charging points. 

The area will increase in size by around 84 per cent, with space for new retail and food and beverage outlets, and accommodate 600 additional seats.

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Declan Collier, chief executive of London City Airport said:  “We are creating more space, more seating, and more comfort for our passengers.

“A record number of people used London City Airport in 2014 and we are on track for another record this year, with some 4 million passengers expected to travel through. 

“People choose LCY for its unrivalled location so close to central London, the speed of check-in and arrivals, and for the quality of the experience here. 

“Without development, that experience was at risk of being compromised but this multi-million pound investment will make the new Western Pier a cutting-edge extension of the departure lounge, with a business-class feel throughout, that is accessible to all.”

Work has begun on the new Western Pier, with completion expected by Summer 2016.

Work on the Western Pier will be carried out under ‘permitted development’ – which means it does not need planning permission.

The Western Pier Project is not part of the City Airport Development Programme, planning permission for which has not been granted. 
London City Airport has mounted an appeal against that decision.