Students handed a letter to London City Airport demanding it pays all cleaners who work on its site the London Living Wage.

The protest, led by University of East London on June 24, demanded the airport followed its example by extending the wage beyond its directly-employed staff to sub-contractors.

Principal lecturer Dr Tim Hall said a wage rise was “vital” to cope with Tory cuts.

“By our calculations City Airport could become a living wage employer by raising its air fares by just one penny,” he said. “This is what we want to encourage.”

A spokeswoman from London City Airport said it was a “London Living Wage employer” – despite its policy not covering 1,500 staff employed at the site by other companies.

“London City Airport cannot dictate to these companies what they pay their staff,” she said. “London City Airport is a London Living Wage employer – all 500 of its directly-employed staff are paid more than the Living Wage of £9.15.”