SHALLOWER APPROACH CONSULTATION LAUNCHED
2nd March 2026
London City has launched a wide-ranging consultation to intoduce shallower approach paths to allow for new, bigger planes, like the A320neo to use the airport. At present planes using London City land at an angle of 5.5 degrees (amongst the steepest in the world). But bigger planes will need an angle of 4.49 degrees. The consultation will last from 2nd March to the 17th May.
The shallower approaches will only be required on arrival. They will be most noticeable on the final approach - over Belvedere and Thamesmead from one direction, and over Tower Hamlets and Newham from the other direction.
London City argues that the larger planes, quieter than the E190 which makes up most of the current fleet, will enable it to bring in a larger number of passengers while limiting the increase in flight numbers.
Earlier this year HACAN East published a report it commissioned from the Aviation Environment Federation comparing the A320neo with the other aircraft expected to be using the airport.
It found the difference between the noise from the A320 compared to other planes is mostly not great. Sometimes it is a bit noisier; sometimes a bit quieter. Mostly a difference imperceptible to the human ear. But report makes the point that two things could change that: the planes flying lower (and it called for real life tests to be carried out which has not happened yet) and, if they prove noisier, the number of larger planes which eventually use the airport.
http://www.hacaneast.org.uk/s/Noise-Lessons-for-London-City-Airport-1.pdf
For more information on the proposals and how to respond:
Here is the direct link to the response form: https://consultations.airspacechange.co.uk/london-city-airport/rnp-ar-approaches/consultation/subpage.2026-01-10.8595169827/
The airport has organised 3 public drop-in sessions where people will be able to view the proposals:
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
It is holding webinars:
If you would like to register to attend one, email LCY-ACP@londoncityairport.com .
Some comments from HACAN EAst
The new planes will be quieter on departure.
It is on arrival where the concerns lie, particularly on the final approaches over Belvedere, Thamesmead and Tower Hamlets where they will be lower than the smaller planes.
The key question is whether the newer planes will be quieter when flying lower. London City don’t know the answer as trials of fully laden planes have not been done.
There are other concerns which we will be highlighting:
No data on the difference between current height and proposed height has been provided in the main documents so people have to do the calculations themselves.
There is a mistake regarding the new height approaching from Thamesmead on RW27 1. The height should be 574ft not 547ft.
London City argue that, because the new, bigger planes will carry more passengers, there will be 76,500 fewer flights than there would have been over a 12 year period. And that by 2038 there would be 77,000 flights per year (still less than the 83,00 in 2019 pre-Covid) instead of 101,000 without the bigger planes. But predictions over such a long time are inevitably uncertain.
There is no mention what London City would do if it reached its annual permitted cap of 111,000 flights.
London City claim a net economic benefit of £38.4 million on combined noise, emissions and fuel benefits over 12 years but provide no annual forecast to fact check this figure.
London City say 18,380 tons of carbon dioxide saving over 12 years but do not mention they emit more than 900,000 tons every year, the highest per passenger emission compared to all other mainland UK airports.