London’s fifth-biggest airport will this week submit an application to aviation regulators that could enable it to capture a bigger slice of the leisure travel market.
Sky News has learnt that London City will on Monday table a bid to alter the take-off and landing gradients used by aircraft flying into and out of the airport – a move that would accommodate the Airbus‘s A320neo jet.
The application will be made formally to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), industry sources said.
The A320neo is used by airlines including easyJet and WizzAir, which principally serve the leisure market rather than business travellers.
Whitehall sources said that Alison FitzGerald, London City’s chief executive, had written to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, late last week to inform her of its plans.
The airport’s move comes about six months after it was granted permission by the government to increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million annually to 9 million, while being denied the opportunity to extend its Saturday operating hours.
In her letter to the chancellor – which has been seen by Sky News – Ms FitzGerald described its CAA application as “a growth-enhancing initiative”.
“We will be seeking approval to introduce a new flight procedure (RNP AR) which would allow the Airbus A320neo to operate,” she wrote.
“This 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.
“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.”
An easyJet A320neo plane. File pic: iStock
She added: “An earlier increase in passenger numbers will deliver economic growth, promote competition between airlines and drive job creation in and around the airport without increasing flight movements or requiring any additional infrastructure.
“In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, introducing the A320neo will provide passengers with a greater range of destinations.
“The aircraft can travel over 1,000km, covering a significant portion of mainland Europe.
“The wider offering will allow passengers, including local residents, the opportunity to travel for leisure or visit family and friends abroad more conveniently.
“Were we to be successful in our application, this would send a positive signal to investors that Britain is open for business.”
London City’s letter to Ms Reeves comes with aviation capacity at the forefront of Labour’s economic agenda.
The chancellor is expected to confirm support for a third runway at Heathrow in a key speech on the economy on Wednesday, while reports last week said that expansion at both Gatwick and Luton airports was about to be given government backing.
A spokesperson for easyJet said it had “no plans to fly from London City Airport”.
“We remain very focused on the opening of our tenth UK base at London Southend this spring.”
The CAA application also comes two months after it was reported that Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP), one of the world’s largest pension funds, was exploring the sale of its stakes in London City and other airport assets it part-owns in the UK and Europe.
London City Airport declined to comment on the submission of its application to the CAA.