London City airport has won planning approval for a £200 million investment that will significantly boost capacity.
Newham Council this week gave the goahead to an extended terminal, a new taxi-way and additional parking stands for larger aircraft at the airport in east London.
The plans mean the airport will operate up to 111,000 annual flights, up from 70,000 currently.
LCY said the new capacity will help "ease the pressure" on existing airport infrastructure in London and the UK.
Under the new expansion plans, the airport said by 2023 it will generate additional short-haul capacity, create 1,500 jobs, double economic impact to £1.5 billion a year, and add "greater levels" of investment in east London.
Declan Collier, the airport's chief executive, said: "Expansion will allow us to increase the flight capacity over the next few years that London so badly needs now. This is a great result for the capital and will be a catalyst for significant inward economic growth and regeneration.
"It will deliver a world-class international gateway to Newham and London and generate additional short-haul aviation capacity for the UK."
Around two-thirds of passengers using London City are business travellers.
In November, the rirport recorded its busiest ever week, with 27 per cent more passengers than during the same period in 2013 (see news, November 20).
Tom Newcombe
