Departing from London City Airport is set to be modernised thanks to a £16million upgrade.

Work has begun to reconfigure the airport’s Western Pier, which houses 70 per cent of its departure gates.

The new departures area will enable the airport to better cope with the millions of passengers that pass through it each year.

It will increase in size by 84pc, with space for new outlets plus an extra 600 seats.

CEO Declan Collier said: “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.”

Due to finish next summer, it is being carried out as permitted development, meaning it does not need planning permission.

It is not part of the City Airport Development Programme, a major project that was rejected by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.