Could the Airbus A320neo open up a slew of new routes at London City Airport?

Despite being the closest airport to the U.K. capital's center, London City Airport (LCY) is often overlooked compared to other major London hubs — but this might be about to change.

London City Airport (LCY) is the capital's fifth busiest airport after Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), London Stansted (STA) and London Luton (LTN). Operating just 90 departures per day, LCY predominantly services European business and short-haul travelers.

However, this audience may soon widen, as the airport has applied for permission from the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to change its takeoff and landing gradients. If the application is successful, it will allow the airport to operate services by Airbus A320neo planes. The hope is that operating A320neo flights can increase the number of passengers moving through the airport without increasing flights.

Due to CAA stipulations regarding the airport's runway length and complex approach, the two largest aircraft that currently fly from LCY are the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jets. Airbus A220s generally hold between 100 and 150 seats, and Embraer E-Jets tend to cap out at around 124 seats. By comparison, an A320neo can carry up to 180 passengers.

Low-budget carriers such as EasyJet and Wizz Air — which both fly A320neo planes — could also now gain access to the airport, potentially opening up a slew of new routes for leisure travelers looking to hop over to the continent with budget-friendly airfares.

A320neo planes are more fuel-efficient and quieter than the current aircraft operating at the airport — lessening the hub's impact on the surrounding area. Further, this could incentivize other LCY-based airlines to modernize their fleets with newer, more environmentally friendly aircraft.

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"The potential introduction of the A320neo aircraft at London City Airport is incredibly exciting," said ​​Alison FitzGerald, CEO of LCY. "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."

The application comes after the U.K. government approved a raise in LCY's annual passenger cap in August 2024, with plans to increase it from 6.5 million to 9 million by 2031— without increasing the number of flights permitted at the airport or expanding existing infrastructure.

Bottom line

London City Airport has applied to the CAA for permission to host flights from Airbus A320neo aircraft. This would increase the amount of passengers the airport can serve without increasing the number of flights from the airport. It would also encourage the modernization of aircraft servicing London City Airport — allowing for more efficient and environmentally friendly operations.