London City Airport has published a new sustainability roadmap underlining its plans to become the first net-zero airport in London by the end of the decade.
The steps outlined in the roadmap include phasing out gas for heating its buildings, ensuring all airport vehicles become electric and plans to become a zero waste and zero single use plastic business. In addition, on scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions that occur in the company’s value chain – the air transport hub aspires to be the most sustainably connected airport in the UK, with 80% of all journeys to and from the airport to be made by sustainable transport modes by 2030. The airport is also working closely with industry partners, and UK Government, to understand how the airport can facilitate low to zero emissions flight as technology comes on stream.
Robert Sinclair, London City Airport’s CEO, commented: “As we continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic, it is imperative that we rebuild in the right way.
Given our size, location and the nature of our route network and operation, we are ideally placed to help shape the next phase of aviation innovation in London, establishing it as a global leader of the net-zero economy, supporting innovation, research and development and creating jobs for the amazing young people of this city.”
According to recent YouGov poll of more than 400 people commissioned by London City Airport, passengers consider sustainability to be one of the top issues in aviation. Data also shows that most respondents expect the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to become available in the UK within the next 10 years.
In addition, most respondents also anticipate that zero emission flights would be rolled out within the next 20 years. This comes ahead of an upcoming industry report, which London City is part of, that outlines how zero emission flights can be introduced across the UK’s domestic aviation market.
The roadmap also explains how the airport will continue to work with and invest in its local communities and help young people achieve their potential. Plans are underway to build an onsite skills and training centre and an ambition for all on-site partners to pay the London Living Wage by 2026.
