London City Airport (LCY) has submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that would, if approved, enable the Airbus A320neo to operate at the Capital’s most centrally located airport.

Quote from Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport: “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.”

London City is seeking to introduce cleaner, quieter aircraft as part of its plans to grow in the most sustainable way possible. The application, which has been lodged, would allow the airport to reach its permitted passenger capacity with fewer flight movements, stimulating economic growth while maintaining operational efficiency. This move would open up a range of possible new routes for passengers while encouraging airlines to modernize their fleet, moving from older to newer generation aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, which are more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly, and quieter.

In August 2024, the Government approved London City’s plans to increase its annual passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9 million by 2031 as a driver of economic growth, with no increase to the permitted number of annual flights and no new infrastructure. The airport sees the potential introduction of the A320neo as critical to enhancing its leisure offerings. The A320neo can carry over 180 passengers, depending on seat configuration, and can travel over 1,000 km, covering large parts of mainland Europe.

The application specifically asks the CAA to approve a new flight procedure (RNP AR) that would change the approach angle for this aircraft at each runway end, as the current approach angle limits the type of aircraft that can use the airport.