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Bechtel’s Impact Report

London City Airport

United Kingdom
London City Airport Expansion

Reaching for the Sky as London City Airport Delivery Partner

This five-year contract will see Bechtel partnering to manage delivery of the £480 million City Airport Development Programme (CADP). The CADP includes: expanding the existing terminal by 24,500m2  and completely reconfiguring its internals and externals; constructing a three-storey passenger pier; creating eight new aircraft stands; and constructing a new parallel aircraft taxiway. The expansion work will require working within the King George V Dock where the project team has uncovered unexploded ordnance from World War II.

Image Gallery

The upgrade will improve air traffic movements from 38 to 45 movements per hour and enable increased annual passenger movements from 4.5 to 6.5 million passengers by 2025. Additionally, the programme will help future-proof the airport to accommodate the next generation of aircraft that are quieter, have longer range and greater fuel efficiency.

  • London City Airport have a “20/15 passenger proposition” – a promise of 20-minute check-in, door to gate and a 15-minute arrival, tarmac to train. Bechtel staff will work alongside London City Airport officials as part of an integrated team to overcome the unique challenges of keeping the airport operational; minimising disruption to passengers, airlines and the local community; and keeping to the 20/15 passenger proposition during CADP construction. A fantastic logistical challenge.

  • The Airport will be the first in the UK to introduce remotely operated digital aircraft control system. The team will build a new 50-metre tall digital tower to enable this innovative technology and install 14 high-definition and two pan-tilt-zoom cameras to provide a full 360-degree view of the airfield. The pioneering system, controlled at NATS in Swanwick, will enhance safety and improve resilience, setting a new standard for the global aviation industry.

Videos

  • Creating new 'land' in King George V Dock

    In this first video about the construction project, Peter Adams, London City Airport's Chief Development Officer, introduces the two-year piling and decking phase. The 'piles' are the steel and concrete columns that will support a new 75,000m2 concrete deck. This concrete deck is, in essence, the new 'land' upon which the new terminal infrastructure and parallel taxiway will sit, above the dock waters of King George V Dock. Over 1,000 piles will be installed in the dock bed, and this video takes the viewer behind the scenes with the piling and decking contractor, BAM Nuttall, to explain the method used.

  • WW2 finds and surveying for unexploded ordnance (UXO) in King George V Dock

    This video goes behind-the-scenes of the major unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey taking place in King George V Dock next to London City Airport - the largest inshore diving project in the country. Since November 2017, an expert team of divers and surveyors have been checking over 400 sites on the dock bed, ensuring that the areas are safe of debris, to begin construction works. As part of this process, several interesting historic discoveries have been made. In February 2018 a 500kg German bomb was found just to the south of the terminal’s east pier, leading to the closure of the airport and the implementation of a 214m cordon while the Royal Navy removed the ordnance for detonation off Shoeburyness. The survey is essential to ensure the safe installation of 1,100 piles (steel and concrete columns) in the dock bed, which will support a concrete deck the size of 11 football pitches, as part of the £480 million City Airport Development Programme.