A UK airport is hoping to increase the number of passengers year on year but a major glitch is preventing them from doing so. A pitch to fly larger aircraft from the London City Airport is yet to be approved. While an increased passenger limit has been approved, the east London airport bosses believe new aircraft will be needed to meet demand.

Its bosses say bigger planes would mean it could increase passenger numbers with fewer flights than with their current, smaller aircraft. They also say the new planes will be less noisy. Despite this, approval for the new aircraft is yet to be passed.

The reason for the snag at present is to do with how much lower planes would have to fly, BBC News reported.

The A320neo - an updated version of the Airbus A320 - needs a shallow flight approach, according to the airport. This would mean planes flying over parts of east London 90ft (27m) lower than they currently do, the committee said.

London Assembly's environment committee is calling for any plans to be halted until "independent and real-world assessments" can be conducted. The impact of increasing the passenger limit has been called into question while residents have expressed their concern over further flights and more passengers.

The committee wrote a letter in response to airport chief executive Andy Cliffe. The letter, co-signed by London Assembly's deputy chair Léonie Cooper, claims that current data is "not sufficient to fully understand the noise impact, and the health and quality of life of residents living and working nearby."

It adds: "The committee therefore opposes any changes until robust, independent real-world assessments have been undertaken to understand how these changes could affect local communities in practice."

London City Airport said the proposal would "unlock more destinations and support London's connectivity and economic growth".

A spokesperson said: "Larger capacity, new‑generation aircraft will mean fewer flights and less noise disturbance for local communities when compared to not making this change over the coming years. Our priority is to grow our airport and continue to maintain a central role in the regeneration of east London."

The Civil Aviation Authority is due to make a decision on lowering the flight approach into the airport by this autumn.