Yorkon News Archives

09/04/2002 – Construction of the London City Airport Jet Centre - now well advanced

Construction of the new London City Airport Jet Centre is now well advanced with the arrival of the building on site. Off-site construction specialists and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, manufactured 14 steel-framed modules in York, which were delivered to the airport by road and craned into position over night ready for fitting out. This highly innovative method of construction will reduce the programme time, ensuring earlier completion of the new facilities to the benefit of London City Airport's corporate clients and passengers.

The 550 sqm two-storey Jet Centre will accommodate VIP lounges, immigration, customs, crew facilities and VIP chauffeur parking. Fully trained staff will be on hand to provide flight planning, weather briefings and landing clearances. Slot requests, ground handling arrangements, flight watch, cleaning, catering, refuelling, and baggage handling will also be organised from the new building.

In 15 years, aircraft movements in and out of this independently owned and operated airport have soared to 55,000 per year and corporate aviation has grown by 252% since 1995. In order to meet future demand, the Jet Centre has been designed by Yorkon to be expanded by a second phase, which would provide additional office accommodation and passenger lounges.

"The Jet Centre is part of our continued investment programme to ensure we deliver an excellent service to our corporate aviation clients", said Richard Gooding, Managing Director of London City Airport. "The building has been designed to make a strong visual statement and to reflect our corporate image. Internally, finishes will be of the highest standards and large spans of glass will allow superb views of the apron and runway."

He added, "The modular approach is providing us with a striking and prestigious yet cost-effective building, with flexibility for future expansion, minimal disruption to the running of this busy airport and in significantly less time."

The main contractors for the project are Fitzpatrick, who are also responsible for constructing a dedicated VIP aircraft apron and parking for up to 20 planes, as well as foundations for the new building. Yorkon's £600,000 contract for the design, construction and fitting out of the Jet Centre follows their completion of a new security building for the airport earlier this year.