AECOM was the lead consultant and design manager for the Emirates Air Line project, the UK’s first urban cable car system. The Emirates Air Line opened in June 2012 in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing an important new transport link to support the regeneration of East London. It has the capacity to carry 2,500 passengers per hour, improving cross-river links for both commuters and tourists. The line connects the Greenwich Peninsular and the Royal Docks.

AECOM designed the terminals on both sides of the river and conducted independent checking of the cable car towers and ship impact protection barriers. AECOM had to discharge more than 150 planning and environmental conditions to meet stakeholder requirements, including addressing the cable car’s potential impact on the flow of river traffic and its possible effect on air traffic in and out of nearby London City Airport.