London City Airport wants to welcome A320neos. But will they come?

In an unexpected announcement, London City Airport has applied for permission to welcome larger aircraft than it currently accepts.

The news was broken by Sky News on Sunday night and confirmed with an official press release on Monday morning.

The airport has submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Authority that, if approved, would allow Airbus A320neo aircraft to use its runways. It would become the largest aircraft to be allowed to fly in and out of London City, offering an additional 50 or so seats over the Airbus A220-100.

London City Airport is not your typical airport

London City Airport already operates under unusual circumstances. Its central location in the Royal Docks means that it is only allowed to operate flights during very specific times. There are no flights between 10:30pm and 6am during the week, whilst flights between 6am and 7am are strictly limited to reduce noise for local residents. Meanwhile, the airport closes entirely between 1pm on Saturdays and 12:30pm on Sundays.

It is not just its proximity to residential areas that causes problems. Its short runway is just 1,500m, less than half of both Gatwick (3,316m) and Stansted (3,048m), limiting the size and weight of aircraft that can land.

In addition, flights in and out take a steep 5.5° glideslope to reduce noise over residential areas. Most airports operate at a 3° glideslope so this is a substantial difference – almost twice as steep. In fact, aircraft must gain unique regulatory approvals before they can be used at London City.

Now London City says it wants to welcome bigger planes. To do so, it is 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 those that can be certified for a steep approach.”

This will allow it to welcome larger aircraft like the A320neo, which it describes as “more fuel efficient, more environmentally friendly and quieter.”

Take that with a pinch of salt. An A320neo might be quieter on a per passenger basis, given its greater capacity, but it’s unlikely to be quieter overall. Airbus told me that:

“Both the A320neo and A220 family aircraft benefit from a 50% reduction in noise compared to older generation aircraft, thanks to new engine technology.” 

The A220 is already flown from London City by some operators such as Italy’s ITA. Swapping an A220 for an A320neo is unlikely to be quieter.

What is correct is that it “would enable London City to reach its permitted passenger capacity with fewer flight movements, stimulating economic growth while maintaining operational efficiency”. However, London City Airport is so far from its theoretical maximum annual passenger cap of nine million that it is a long way off from aircraft size being the limiting factor.

It’s also not clear what restrictions would be in place on an A320neo. Whilst I’m told that “early indications are that A320neo operators will be able to operate with a full passenger load” it’s not clear whether this includes additional cargo load or not.

Airbus would also need to certify the aircraft for the steep glidepath, which it has not done for the A220-300. Airbus told me that “London City Airport is in the early stages of application and next steps will be discussed in due course.”

What is driving this change?

The real reason why London City Airport is pushing for this change has, I suspect, little to do with welcoming “cleaner, quieter aircraft.”

Rather, I believe it is an attempt to grow passenger numbers. That’s because, unlike many other UK airports, London City Airport is struggling.

Last year, it welcomed 3.57 million passengers – just two thirds of its 2019 record year and just 170,000 more than 2023. Meanwhile, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and others have set new passenger records.

Allowing A320neo aircraft to operate from London City Airport substantially lowers the barriers to entry and will make it easier for airlines to open routes with existing aircraft rather than investing in niche subfleets. The A320neo is one of the most popular aircraft types out there, with over 10,000 ordered by more than 130 airlines.

Take British Airways, for example. It is currently the largest operator at London City Airport with an ageing fleet of Embraer E190s with just 106 seats. At some point, BA will need to replace these aircraft but might baulk at investing in an A220 or Embraer E2 fleet given the limited opening times.

Being able to operate A320neo flights would be a game-changer and offers the sort of flexibility that British Airways would be looking for. It could get rid of its E190 subfleet and allow interoperability of aircraft across its operations at Heathow and Gatwick when London City Airport is closed.

The changes wouldn’t just benefit existing airlines. easyJet and Wizz Air in particular are major A320neo operators and might be enticed to try flights from London City. Other full-service airlines in Europe might also consider it for the first time.

There are other concerns, of course. Will the current terminal manage to cope with 180 passengers at a single gate, or in the cramped baggage hall, or indeed almost anywhere in the terminal? I am a big fan of London City Airport but it is not exactly the most spacious. It also doesn’t offer the convenience of jet bridges.

Will allowing A320neo operations be enough to attract more passengers and turn around the airport’s prospects? Who knows. It certainly won’t be a hindrance to future growth and its vaunted target of nine million passengers – a target that, right now, feels like it is decades away.