Excelsis delays City arrival plans

Spokesman Jim Knight said: "There has been nothing signed yet with City Airport. It's fair to say there has been some slippage in the timescale.

"What we said was we were hopeful of flying before the end of November. But it now looks more likely that it will be at the end of the year."

Excelsis, which hopes to fly from Durham Teeside, initially said it would keep all plans regarding the launch under wraps.

However, in recent weeks it was discovered that the airline had used sections from the website of Canadian airline Fly Porter on its own site.

Following the blunder, a press briefing was arranged with journalists from the north-east of England to explain the hold-ups.

Executives were unveiled and told how they had secured £10million of investment for the project.

It also revealed at the meeting that it planned to lease both aircraft and staff from an unnamed company.

- A multi-million-pound reconfiguration to speed up security processes at London City Airport will take place next year.

The work will be finished by autumn 2010, when the airport says passengers will see a significantly increased passenger search area and more room in the departure lounge.

Director of terminal services Melanie Burnley said: "We are introducing security lanes to respond to the change in passenger behaviour.

"With a greater use of online check-in and less use of traditional check-in desks, more passengers are heading straight to security upon arrival to the airport.

"The reconfiguration of the terminal will enable the airport to maintain its successful status as the fastest airport in London."

The terminal works will be managed by Atkins Design & Engineering.