Following the suspension of commercial operations on 25 March as a result of the coronavirus crisis, London City Airport plans to restart services by the end of June.

It is expected that domestic services to key cities in the UK will begin first with international flights expected to follow in July.

Staff have been busy working behind the scenes to prepare the terminal to welcome back passengers and to offer a safe and speedy journey through the airport. Progress has also been made on the airport’s major development programme with construction following government guidelines and focusing on key airside projects including aircraft stands, the parallel taxiway and new immigration and baggage facilities.

Temperature Checking Technology both on departure and arrival will also be in place for passengers, while airport staff will be provided masks and visors. Rigorous and thorough cleaning regiments will also be deployed throughout the terminal and will include the use of an anti-bacterial surface treatment which will begin to kill all germs upon contact and lasts for up to 12 months.

Wherever possible staff and passengers will be asked to observe social distancing rules in the terminal and throughout the airport. London City is also working with long-term partner CrowdVision to enable the detection of areas where there is a high concentration of passengers who can then be moved to less populated areas.

Commenting on the airport’s plans to re-open Robert Sinclair, CEO at London City said: “When our doors re-open again shortly, our ambition is to provide the best airport experience in the UK to our passengers by ensuring we follow industry guidance to the letter and by maintaining our reputation as the quickest London airport to get to and through.

“While there are many challenges ahead for the UK aviation industry, it is our hope that by outlining the steps we are taking to make the airport safe, and by incorporating the views of our regular travellers into our plans, we will give people the confidence to fly from our airport to destinations across the UK and Europe.”

The airport has been making use of the UK Governments Job Retention Scheme and currently pays furloughed staff 100% of their wages.

 

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