London City has started work on a £16 million development programme set to “transform” departures at the airport.
The airport confirmed that work has begun to reconfigure the Western pier, which houses 70 per cent of LCY’s departures gates.
London City has continually increased traffic over the past few years and February saw record numbers pass through the airport, with a 33 per cent increase on the same period in 2014.
The new Western Pier will increase in size by around 84 per cent with space for new retail and food outlets and 600 additional seats. There will also be new seating, electronic boarding gates, quiet areas and charging points.
Completion of the new area is expected summer 2016.
Declan Collier, CEO of London City Airport said: “A record number of people used London City Airport in 2014 and we are on track for another record this year, with some 4 million passengers expected to travel through.
“People choose LCY for its unrivalled location so close to central London, the speed of check-in and arrivals, and for the quality of the experience here.
“Without development, that experience was at risk of being compromised but this multi-million pound investment will make the new Western Pier a cutting-edge extension of the departure lounge, with a business-class feel throughout, that is accessible to all.”