Richard Gooding

“clocking up 42 years in the airline business”

“Aged just 18, Gooding left rural Suffolk to work as an apprentice for British European Airways”

“At 62, Gooding’s staying power is noteworthy.”

“He has been in charge of London City for 14 of the 22 years that the airport has been open”

“Gooding bustles his heavyset 6’ 2” frame into a meeting room at the airport’s functional beige and blue headquarters a stone’s throw away from the runway.”

“The airport, which handled 3.3m passengers last year (a 12 per cent rise on 2007), expects to see passenger numbers fall 10 per cent this year.”

“Gooding has frozen staff numbers at 400, although the airport – which is ideal for Canary Wharf and only seven miles from the City – indirectly provides work for another 2,500 in the Docklands.”

“Over the last five years the business had spent £30m building new aircraft stands and another £20m installing a new baggage system, doubling the size of the departure area in its terminal building.”

“However, 2007 – the most recent figures for the private firm – was a stellar year for the business. Its full-year figures rocketed 94 per cent to £33.4m on the back of a double-digit increases in pas…”

“The brightest spot on the airport’s horizon this year is the British Airways (BA) business class-only launch from London City to New York JFK on 29 September.”

“This will see the British flag carrier flying modified Airbus A318s with 32 flatbed seats twice a day across the Atlantic with a check‑in time of just 15 minutes.”

“The aircraft will take off from City’s runway, which is only 1,199 meters long, about a third as long as Heathrow or Gatwick.”

“Gooding’s burly figure has long been a fixture at the airport that was built by builders Mowlem and first began to operate on 26 October 1987.”

“Gooding was first brought to the airport by Desmond in 1996.”

“Before that he worked for 15 years at BA in a variety of posts, including as its area manager in Jordan.”

“He became operations director at Manchester Airport in 1981 for four years, before founding ground-handling firm Ogden Allied.”

“Gooding left to become chief executive of Luton Airport in 1991.”

“He was lured away by Desmond five years later.”

“Airlines offer a 20-minute check-in time for passengers with hand luggage and a minimum of 30 for those with luggage.”

“A “no-queues” policy means the average time for a passenger to process security takes two minutes.”