Year
1987Duration
1 yearCost
£34m (£98m today)Location
United KingdomProject achievements
Solved the problem
Provide an airport close to London’s financial hub
Connected communities
Deal makers get quick access to the City when most needed
Economy boosted
A key transport route for business people and financiers. Created local jobs
Construct a new airport close to London's financial district
London City Airport is an international airport in the east of London. It mostly serves the financial districts of the capital based in the City and Docklands.
The airport has a single 1,508m runway – extended from 1,080m when it opened. It also has a steep glide path to reduce aircraft noise for local residents.
The sharp glide path and relatively short and narrow (30m) runway means that only smaller planes are allowed to fly in or out of the airport. The most common ones are the Embraer E-Jets, carrying up to 134 passengers, and the Airbus A220, which can sit up to 135 people.
London City Airport was built on the site of the King George V Dock in 1987.
The dock closed in 1981 as modern cargo container ships grew too big for it and the other royal docks to handle.
The site provided a different type of infrastructure for the capital when the airport was opened in 1987 by Queen Elizabeth II.
"London City Airport is an engine for growth in the city… [it provides] a vital link to our regional airports and the rest of the country.”
CHRIS GRAYLING Transport Secretary, on government plans to expand the airport In 2016
Did you know …
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In June 1982, pilot Harry Gee landed a de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 on Heron Quays, in the nearby West India Docks. The stunt aimed to show that a short take-off and landing airport could work on the site.
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London City's original 1,080m runway meant the airport could only be used by small planes able to take off over a short distance.
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Despite its early limitations, London City is now the 13th busiest airport in the UK. It saw 4.3 million passengers in 2015.
The dock that came before
London City Airport replaced what had been a major piece of London's infrastructure.
The King George V was one of the three royal docks constructed between 1850 and 1921 – the others were Victoria Dock and Albert Dock.
It was an important centre of trade and employment in its time. It was big enough to deal with the world's largest ocean-going ships – including the 790ft (241m) liner RMS Mauretania.
The King George V Dock had been a massive engineering project of its time. It took 10 years to construct and cost £4.1m (about £184m today) - 900 people worked on it.
The dock covered 64 acres and included a dry dock, a swing bridge, 3 miles of road and 11 miles of new railway track.
One major challenge for project engineers was the excavation of gravel from the ground – formed by the river over many millions of years. Workers recycled what they dug up and used it to make concrete for the dock walls.
Another part of the scheme saw six tunnels dug under the dock's entrance to house gas, water and electricity pipes for the complex.
How was London City Airport built?
To build the airport, part of King George V Dock was filled in with rubble from demolished buildings.
The runway itself was "built on a concrete raft floating over steel piles driven into the dock bed," explains Malcolm Oakley for East London History.
To honour its history, the terminal building's design was inspired by dockside warehouses.
The former dock/airport site continues to be an important one for London's infrastructure.
There are current plans to expand the airport's capacity from 6.5 to 9 million passengers per year.
Difference the city airport has made
The airport has become an essential hub for business fliers in the Docklands and the City of London. It contributes to the effectiveness of the capital's two financial districts.
London City is the biggest private sector employer in the London Borough of Newham. More than 50 companies onsite employ over 2,000 people.
Project milestones
Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in November
Extended its runway by 428m, enabling larger aircraft to take off and land at the airport
Expanded the terminal building by adding new lounges, catering, shops, check-in desks, and more
Built a new passenger pier and a parallel taxiway
People who made it happen
- Client: London Docklands Development Corporation
- Construction engineers: Mowlem
