Switch flights to City Airport 'to ease pressure'

Heathrow was dealt a blow today as an influential report called for more flights to operate out of a rival airport.

The Aviation Services and The City report said more short-haul carriers should fly out of London City Airport, if the capital wanted to retain its status as one of the world's financial centres.

The report by York Aviation said that while a third runway at Heathrow is the "obvious" solution to airport congestion, it would have a detrimental effect on the environment and suggested that London City Airport could schedule more short-haul and business flights to relieve the pressures on Heathrow.

The report states: "London City is assumed to be able to grow in line with its master plan. As such, it is likely to become a major valve for businessfocused short-haul services pushed out of Heathrow. This should mean both a substantial deepening and broadening of the network offered from the airport." The recommendation will place further pressure on Heathrow's owner BAA, which has faced criticism from some of its clients affected by delayed moves caused by the Terminal 5 fiasco.

London City Airport, which made its name serving Canary Wharf, has received the go-ahead from Newham council for a 50 per cent increase in the number of flights permitted. It will now be able to increase air traffic movements from 80,000 to 120,000 a year and has been commended for employing more than 2,000 local people.

A growing number of Heathrow's clients have moved flights to the east London hub, which is posting a 20 per cent rise in passengers each year and is popular for its easy access to the City.

Airline Luxairmoved its entire operation from Heathrow to London City this month saying it was more " convenient" for business passengers. Air France purchased Belgian business airline VLM last year to gain a stronger foothold in City Airport and SWISS is increasing flights to Zurich from the terminal.

BA, which added four new services this year from London City flying to Barcelona, Warsaw, Amsterdam and Nice, is also launching a business classonly service to New York next year.

Richard Gooding, London City Airport's chief executive, coined the term "Heathrow Refugees" previously for the extra passengers at City who were shunning the west London airport.

Business group London First has called for Heathrow to remove transfer flights and said the airport's problems were jeopardising the UK economy.

I'M A CONVERT - IT'S SO EASY

Varun Sharma, 36, is presenter of Inside Luxury Travel on The Travel Channel. He lives in Pimlico with his wife.

"I'm a Heathrow refugee - it's an airport that I now avoid as much as possible - but I'm also a convert to London City. When City Airport opened initially I thought it was appalling. The first sign of a cross wind and there would be delays. But they are a lot slicker now. I use it for nearly everything I do out of Europe. I am a keen golfer and the fact that you can get up to St Andrews within two hours is very appealing. It's really easy as you can park your car and be in your plane within .. to .. minutes. I still have to rely on Heathrow for long-haul but I'm tempted to pick up a KLM flight from Amsterdam so I can avoid it."