London City Airport launches consultation on new landing approach

Image courtesy LCY

The proposal forms part of the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s CAP1616 Airspace Change Process, now entering Stage 3 (Consult).

At present, all aircraft landing at London City Airport (LCY) must use a steep 5.5 degree approach due to the airport’s unique location. The airport is proposing to introduce an additional 4.49 degree approach, made possible by high precision satellite based navigation. This new procedure would be available only to specifically authorised new generation aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, while most aircraft would continue to use the existing 5.5 degree approach.
 
Importantly, the proposal does not involve any changes to existing flight paths. Aircraft would continue to fly over the same areas as they do today; the only change relates to the vertical profile in the final few kilometres before landing. Departure routes remain unchanged.
 
The change is being proposed to support the airport’s ability to meet future passenger demand as it grows towards its government approved cap of nine million passengers per year. The existing steep approach limits the types of aircraft able to serve the airport. Allowing new generation aircraft with greater capacity and improved fuel efficiency to operate at London City would enable the airport to accommodate passenger growth with slower growth in the overall number of flights.
 
Independent assessments show that the proposed change would deliver significant environmental, noise and operational benefits over the next 12 years compared to just maintaining the current procedures. These include:
An estimated saving of 18,380 tonnes of CO₂ and 5,780 tonnes of fuel.
A net economic benefit of between £38.4 million and £97.4 million. 
Reduced overall noise exposure for more than 110,000 people compared to the current scenario, including around 10,000 who would experience reduced early morning noise. 
Approximately 76,500 fewer flights over the 12 year period when compared to a scenario without this change.
 
Andy Cliffe, Chief Executive Officer at London City Airport, commented: “This consultation marks an important moment for London City Airport and the communities around us. Our proposals would allow us to grow more sustainably by reducing the number of flights and the level of noise people would experience when compared with not making this change. 
 
By enabling quieter and more efficient aircraft to operate at London City Airport, we can deliver the benefits of growth while lessening the impact on those who live nearby.

It would also accelerate the creation of up to 4,000 new jobs and the introduction of new airlines and exciting new routes and destinations for passengers. 
 
We want local voices at the heart of this process, and I strongly encourage residents, passengers and partners to take part and share their views.”
 
The consultation runs from Monday 2nd March to Sunday 17th May 2026 and is open to anyone with an interest in the proposal. Full documentation, technical assessments and explanatory materials are available online at www.londoncityairport.com/ACP.
 
During the consultation period, the public can take part in several ways, including attending in person drop in events:

• Thursday 9th April, 15:00-19:00 – Idea Store, Chrisp Street, Tower Hamlets, E14 6BT
• Thursday 16th April, 15:00-19:00 – Wanstead Library, 3 Spratt Hall Road, E11 2RQ
• Tuesday 21st April, 15:00-19:00 – Thamesmere Leisure Centre, Thamesmead, SE28 

There will also be a series of online webinars hosted by the airport’s ACP team, as well as a permanent ACP exhibition at London City Airport. If the in person drop in events are not convenient, any interested party can book a face to face briefing and consultation session with the project team at the airport’s permanent exhibition space by emailing LCY [email protected].
 
The airport is also committed to hearing from groups whose voices are often under represented, and will make appropriate arrangements for accessibility and other individual needs. Anyone requiring support is encouraged to email LCY [email protected] to discuss how they can access information and take part in the consultation in a way that works for them.
 
Formal responses to the consultation must be submitted via the Citizen Space portal at: 
https://consultations.airspacechange.co.uk/london-city-airport/rnp-ar-approaches
 
All responses will be reviewed, analysed and published in a consultation response report later in 2026.