London City Airport (LCY) Wants Airbus A320neo Flights

I’d love to see the return of JFK-LCY on an all business class A320NEO.

What about flying the a319neo? It requires far shorter runway right

It doesn't have higher capacity than the A220 which already flies there.

And a major announcement being made in Parliament tomorrow on the 3rd runway at LHR which is rumoured to be given the green light if planning applications are submitted.

I can't see this happening. And it the terminal wouldn't be able to handle it, it's tiny - trying to load 200 passengers on one flight from it would be hell.

Departing LCY is such a thrill. Even the smaller planes have to gun the engines with the brakes on and then let 'er rip.

Good. They also need to approve the 2nd runway at Gatwick. Long overdue.

Authorities publish recommended minimum runway lengths for aircraft over 60,000 pounds & given an airport's operating environment. Aside from that, there are an aircraft's specifications. The airport's current runway length is within the NEO's specs for landing. Assuming maximum takeoff weight, the NEO's balanced field length is 6900 feet. Lighter fuel load, as is done for Florence's 5000-foot runway, would work but would limit range.

Agreed and I think the Luton Rising project will get the green light.

Now, if Parliament would only approve a project to improve roadway access from central London to the motorways. It's a slog from Hyde Park to Fulham. And, access to Gatwick is insane.

I wish they would use the scar that HS2 is carving through London and the 3 counties and turn it into a motorway!

Came for this comment. @Roberto, do you remember what plane was used on that flight before?

BA operated two A318 in an all J configuration. But even the baby bus required a fuel stop at SNN due to take off weight restriction. This was used for US Pre Clearance, but it was actually because of the take off weight limit from LCY.

If you have been in the terminal on a weekday morning, there is no lounge, coffee shops are swamped, the space is hot, cramped, and basically a scrum. Preferable for a short hop business flight over trekking out to LHR, but LCY is not super fun. Putting 50% more passengers through that building without improving it borders on impossibility in this frequent LCY flier's opinion.

It beats LHR for short business hops, but leisure destinations and leisure travel with larger aircraft without redoing or expanding the terminal is questionable to me. BA if you are reading this please build an LCY lounge....

They need an Airbus A220XLR 🙂

The idea is that you're not supposed to spend a lot of time at the airport, it's meant to be like the good old days when you arrived at the airport and went straight to the plane. Not so long ago, the check-in deadline was 20 mins before departure (now it's 30 minutes). I can leave my hotel by ExCel one hour before take off, leisurely walk to the airport and still make it. Who cares about a lounge or bars when you can do that.

Electricwireles: That’s a Brilliant Idea but lengthen the cabin!

Right, bulldoze some more inner neighborhoods so that you can get to the airport 2-5 minutes faster, if that.

Meanwhile, trains to Heathrow exist and are likely faster than driving from central London.

I'm flabbergasted they don't push for the A220-300 instead. The -100 is already certified, it's a quiet and pleasant plane to fly and there are plenty in Europe with AF, LX, Air Baltic, ITA and so on. The catch is that BA or OW for that matter has not ordered any and has stuck to the E190. This announcement indicates they have to plan to change that stance but would love to get rid of the gas guzzling E190s.

So while the more reasonable move to increase capacity appears to be to work on A220-300 certification that would favour mostly BA's competitors. I don't know how useful a 320neo would be with such payload restrictions...

As always the juicy bit in those PR stunts is in what's not said...