A MAJOR UK airport is hoping to welcome larger jets to its airport for the first time ever and could rival some of the biggest airports in the country.
London City Airport currently welcomes 3.7million passengers a year, mainly operating short flights to Europe such as Amsterdam, Madrid, Florence, Berlin and Frankfurt.
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But it is hoping to fly to new destinations like the Balearics and more southern Greek islands.
It is currently unable to offer too many long-haul routes – even as far as southern Spain and Greece – thanks to its short runway, leaving Londoners departing from the likes of Gatwick or Heathrow instead.
However, it is now planning on welcoming bigger aircraft and adding services to far-flung destinations in Europe.
Andy Cliffe, the airport’s new boss, told The Telegraph: “We’re having conversations with everybody at the moment and with all kinds of airlines, from BA right the way through to low-cost carriers.”
He added: “We’ll see a huge increase in range. At the moment we get to parts of Spain and the Balearics.
“We’ll start to hit further reaches of southern Spain and towards the Greek islands.”
The airport at London City is 1,500 metres long, which is much shorter than those at other major hubs which are around 3,000 metres.
While the runway at London City cannot be extended, it hopes to install emergency traps at either end.
These are designed to stop planes – especially the larger aircraft which London City hopes to use – from overshooting and will allow them to land safely.
Nothing has been decided yet as the proposals will be looked at by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
It is hoped this change means airlines like easyJet will bring bigger aircraft to the hub.
Other airlines like British Airways which already serves the airport, could bring in larger jets too.
London City does offer a few destinations to islands in Greece already, like Thessaloniki and Skiathos, and Ibiza and Palma but larger planes will allow more destinations and some further afield.