London’s most restricted airport may soon see service from larger jets, and it could have significant implications…
London City Airport hopes for A320neo service approval
London has six airports — Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), Stansted (STN), City (LCY), and Southend (SEN). London City Airport is unique, as it’s by far the closest airport to central London. The catch is that the airport is heavily restricted, both in terms of the hours it can operate, and in terms of the types of aircraft it can accommodate.
Currently, London City Airport primarily sees service from Airbus A220s and Embraer E-Jets, as these are the two biggest types of aircraft that can serve the airport. This is due to a combination of the runway length, plus the complicated approach to the airport.
Well, the airport is trying to greatly increase capacity, without actually increasing the number of aircraft movements. The airport has submitted an application to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to enable the Airbus A320neo to operate to the airport.
The application is specifically asking the CAA to approve a new flight procedure (RNP AR), which would alter the approach angle for this aircraft at each runway end. The current approach angle limits the type of aircraft that use the airport, and requires a steep approach.
Here’s how Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, describes this:
“The potential introduction of the A320neo aircraft at London City Airport is incredibly exciting. It would broaden the range of leisure destinations for our passengers, enable growth without increasing the number of flight movements, deliver much needed economic growth and accelerate refleeting to cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft.”
It remains to be seen if this gets approved or not…
This would allow the airport to grow without more flights
In August 2024, the government approved London City Airport’s plan to increase the annual passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9.0 million by 2031, as a driver of economic growth. That’s a nearly 40% increase in the number of passengers, though the catch is that this approval included no increase to the permitted number of annual flights, and no new infrastructure.
So airport executives see the introduction of the A320neo as the key to building traffic at the airport. The aircraft can carry up to 180 passengers, significantly more than any other aircraft currently flying to the airport.
The catch is that the flights would be heavily weight restricted, so would have a range of at most 1,000km (around 620 miles), while traveling with a full cabin. That’s because the runway in London City is only 1,500 meters (around 4,950 feet) long. Still, that covers a lot of destinations currently served from the airport, as well as a lot of other potential destinations.
This really shows you the slim margins with which this would be possible. The A320ceo presumably doesn’t have the engine power to operate here, while the A321neo would be too big.
Executives at the airport argue that the A320neo is more fuel efficient and quieter than most aircraft currently flying to the airport, so it’s a win-win, since it would have less impact on the area. I’d agree, though at the same time, without any additional infrastructure investments, I do have some concerns about the passenger experience.
Bottom line
London City Airport has been approved for a higher passenger cap, though the limit on actual flight movements isn’t increasing. As a result, the airport is hoping to get creative, and have Airbus A320neo service at the airport. This requires a new approach course to be approved, which requires permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The A320neo is significantly bigger than any plane that currently flies to the airport. The plane could operate as far as 1,000km with a full load, so the range would be limited. But still, that covers most of the routes currently operated from the airport, and would allow a significant boost in capacity.
What do you make of the prospect of the A320neo flying to London City Airport?
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