Video: Boris Johnson: London cable car is as good as 30 buses The Emirates Air Line, a £44 million cable car system spanning the Thames in London, will carry passengers almost 300ft above the river between Greenwich, by the O2 Arena in south London, and the Royal Docks, by the ExCeL exhibition centre to the north. Each car provides 360-degree views taking in the City, Canary Wharf, historic Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park. London mayor Boris Johnson, who rode one of the cable cars, said it was a viable option for people to use as route when they commute to work. The system is sponsored by Dubai-based airline Emirates, which has contributed £36 million to the project in a 10-year deal. The system can carry up to 2,500 people per hour in each direction and will operate every day.