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London City is, according to Which?, ‘by far the best airport in London’ (and the second best in the UK). It’s super efficient, it was the first airport in the UK to ditch the 100ml rule and you can get there from central London in a mere 20 minutes. The one thing it doesn’t have going for it, is a big choice of budget flight offerings.
Right now, only 90 planes take off from London City per day, just a fraction of the average of 650 daily flights launching from Heathrow. Just 10 airlines operate from the port, mostly serving short-haul and business travellers.
But now, London City is making moves to change that. The airport has just submitted an application the Civil Aviation Authority to alter take-off and landing gradients and make room for even more aircraft.
Notably, the move would allow for a plane called the A320neo, which is used by budget airlines like Jet2, easyJet and WizzAir. None of those airline currently operate at London City, so the move could ultimately allow for way more affordable flight routes.
Alison Fitzgerald, London City Airport’s chief executive, said that the move ‘would open up a range of possible new routes for passengers while incentivising airlines to modernise their fleet from older to newer generation aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, which has lower carbon emissions and is quieter’.
She added: ‘The introduction of this new generation aircraft would also support the government's objectives of driving economic growth and supporting sustainable aviation, while creating more choice of destinations and reducing the environmental impact for local residents.
‘The wider offering will allow passengers, including local residents, the opportunity to travel for leisure or visit family and friends abroad more conveniently.’
EasyJet, Jet2 and WizzAir have all so far said they currently have no plans to start using London City Airport. The news comes after London City was granted permission to increase its annual passenger cap from 6.5m to 9m.
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