In the first half of 2023, a quarter of all flights out of London City Airport (LCY) departed with fewer than half of their seats occupied, new data uncovered by Green Assembly Member Zack Polanski reveals.
16 flights a day – a total of 2,945 flights – were found to leave more than half empty between January to June 2023, amounting to 31 per cent of all City Airport flights in the first three months of 2023.
The new data comes as the proposed expansion of City Airport is still under consideration by Newham Council. If City Airport’s push to extend flying during early mornings and Saturday evenings is accepted, there could be up to 50 per cent more flights departing out of the airport each year.
Green Party London Assembly Member Zack Polanski said:
“The audacity of London City Airport to push for expansion when they are not even close to filling their current flights is mystifying. In the middle of a climate emergency, the last thing we should be doing is expanding half empty airports.
“This new data shows exactly how London City’s business model welcomes – if not relies on – half empty flights as long as they run more frequently, with no regard for the carbon they spew into the atmosphere or the likelihood of economic failure.
“Whoever the final decision falls to – the council, the Mayor, the Government – must block this profiteering for the sake of Londoners and the environment.”
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, airlines across Europe came under widespread condemnation after revelations they had regularly been running ‘ghost flights’ – empty or near-empty flights – to preserve their slots in airport timetables.[3] Greenpeace estimated the average annual emissions from those ghost flights are estimated to equal the equivalent climate damage of driving 1.4 million extra cars.[4]
During his tenure on the London Assembly, Zack has laid out his criticism of City Airport on the grounds of pollution harms, noise for residents, and a staggering increase in CO2 emissions.
Zack has also advocated for a total ban on private jets in London, aircraft that can produce up to 14 times more emissions per passenger than commercial planes, and up to 50 times more than trains. Analysis by Zack earlier this year found one return flight between London and the south of France can emit more carbon than the average Londoner does in a year.
