This week’s figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which showed that punctuality
at Heathrow is the worst in recent memory, also showed something else –
that London City is losing its reputation
as the airport you can zip through quicker than you can say "Don't you think
that plane coming in to land a bit steeply?".
The CAA figures showed that in the first three months of 2008, just 58% of
flights at the airport were on time – the same as in the last three months
of 2007. The average delay at the airport is now 22 minutes, up from just
eight minutes a few years ago.
When the punctuality statistics for the end of 2007 were published by the CAA,
an airport spokeswoman said that the delays were not unexpected, because
passenger numbers had risen by 23% in a year but that a £30 million
investment in new aircraft stands – set to open in May - would solve the
problem.
The new figures relate to before the opening of these stands and, according to
the airport, were made considerably worse by poor weather during the period:
fog – the bane of the riverside airport’s life.
I thought I would ask the airport how things were going now. “We have seen
improvements in ramp congestion as a result of our new aircraft parking
stands that came into use on 6 May. At the same time however, we have
continuously been affected by heavy rain and a week of interruptions to our
operation due to the unexploded bomb found in east London,” said the airport
spokeswoman. This means that the next set of punctuality statistics are
likely to be poor too.
According to the airport, there are good reasons for these ongoing delays but
it does make you wonder whether the airport is losing its unique selling
proposition – getting through the whole airport in less time than it takes
to walk along a travelator at Heathrow. (As an aside, my own record at City
is catching a plane despite arriving only eight minutes before take-off.)
Rising passenger numbers, increased security (and, according to some, slower
service in the now enlarged restaurant) have all had an effect but the
airport’s chief executive, Richard Gooding, still believes the airport has
got what it takes.
“We still get passengers through the airport in a far quicker time than any
other airport; continuing to do so is a vital component of the future growth
of the airport,” he said. “We have experienced a period of exceptional
growth over recent years; our new shareholders GIP and AIG-FP recognised
this and enabled us to invest in a number of projects over the last year,
which are currently coming on stream.”
These projects – such as doubling the security facilities, replacing the
baggage system and employing more staff and more – should in theory help it
retain its position as the only airport situated inside a fast track
channel.
But with an Olympic dream being built on its doorstep and a new business
friendly service from BA to New York due to start in the third quarter of
2009, the pressure to remain punctual will increase dramatically. Still, at
least the economic downturn will probably mean there will be fewer
passengers passing through in the coming months.
