London City Airport, which is owned by financier Mr Dermot Desmond, has unveiled ambitious plans to increase passenger volumes from 1.6 million to 4 million by 2010. The company is seeking to add new routes, focusing mainly on Germany and France and expects that further regional jets, currently being developed, will be certified for use at the airport. The airport submitted a planning application to the London borough of Newham yesterday to raise the number of aircraft parking stands from 10 to 15 and to increase runway capacity by building an aircraft holding area at the end of the runway.

The extensions will be built on decks over the water of the surrounding King George V dock - part of the London flood defences. Passenger numbers using the airport, which is about six miles to the east of the City of London, have tripled in the past five years. Mr Richard Gooding, London City Airport managing director, said the airport will invest about £20 million sterling (€33.25 million) in the expansion which is hoped to be in operation in 2003 and 2004 - in time for the opening of the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to it. The rail extension will reduce the journey time between the airport and Bank station in the city to 20 minutes.

London City Airport was opened in 1986 and suffered losses for almost 10 years. In 1995 companies associated with Mr Desmond bought the airport from the John Mowlem construction group for £23.5 million sterling.

The expansion plan for the runway and aircraft parking is expected to add about 50 per cent to the airport's peak-time take-off and landing slot capacity.