The UK's first urban cable car service, spanning the River Thames in London, opens to the public on Thursday.

The crossing, sponsored by Dubai-based airline Emirates, is between the ExCeL exhibition centre and the O2 arena at Greenwich in south London.

The system can carry up to 2,500 people per hour in each direction and will operate every day.

Known as the Emirates Air Line, the facility will cost £3.20 for a single fare for those using Oyster cards, while adults paying by cash will have to fork out £4.30.

boris johnson

The cars run between the ExCeL centre and the O2 arena, formerly the Millenium Dome

There will also be special "frequent flyer" deals for regular users.

London mayor Boris Johnson said: "This spectacular new addition to London's skyline will provide a much-needed new river crossing in the east of our great city.

"It will open up access to jobs in the Royal Docks enterprise zone and attract businesses and investors to a previously under-exploited area."

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  • FILE - This is a Tuesday, May 15, 2012 file photo of workers at the construction site of Transport for London's gondola lift cable car link during tests across the River Thames, in London. Transport for London said Monday June 18, 2012 it will start operating Britain's first urban cable car at the end of June Â-- in time for the crowds expected for the Olympics. The cable car will make the half mile (one kilometre) crossing between Greenwich and the Royal Docks starting June 28. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

  • AP Images

  • The new a cable car crosses of the River Thames past the O2 arena in Greenwich London. Transport for London said Monday June 18, 2012 it will start operating Britain's first urban cable car at the end of June.

  • The scheme comprises a 1 km (0.62 mile) cable car line that crosses the river from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks, linking two important Olympic sites. Up to 34 gondolas, each carrying a maximum of 10 passengers, will run across the river when the project gets ready in time for the 2012 London Olympics. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

  • A boat sails past two of the three towers that will form the cable car spanning across the River Thames in London, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. The cable car planned to be completed by summer will link two of the London 2012 Olympic venues, the O2 arena and ExCel centre across the River Thames carrying 2,500 passengers an hour 50 meters in the air. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

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    Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for culture, Olympics, media and sport, talks about the London Olympics to be held this summer.