London City Airport has launched a public consultation on its proposed Airspace Change Proposal, inviting local communities, stakeholders and members of the public to comment on plans to introduce an additional landing approach for certain aircraft. The proposal forms part of the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s CAP1616 Airspace Change Process.
All aircraft landing at London City Airport currently use a steep 5.5-degree approach due to the airport’s location. The airport is proposing to introduce an additional 4.49-degree approach, made possible by satellite-based navigation. This procedure would be available only to authorized aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, while most aircraft would continue to use the existing 5.5-degree approach.
The proposal does not involve changes to existing flight paths. Aircraft would continue to fly over the same areas. The 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 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 environmental, noise and operational benefits over the next 12 years compared to maintaining current procedures. These include an estimated saving of 18,380 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 5,780 tonnes of fuel, a net economic benefit of between £38.4 million (US$49.7 million) and £97.4 million (US$126 million), reduced noise exposure for more than 110,000 people compared to the current scenario, including approximately 10,000 who would experience reduced early-morning noise, and approximately 76,500 fewer flights over the 12-year period.
“This consultation marks an important moment for London City Airport and the communities around us,” said Andy Cliffe, chief executive of London City Airport. “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.”
The consultation runs from 2 March to 17 May 2026 and is open to anyone with an interest in the proposal. Full documentation, technical assessments and explanatory materials are available at www.londoncityairport.com/ACP.
During the consultation period, the public can attend in-person drop-in events on 9 April at Idea Store in Tower Hamlets, 16 April at Wanstead Library, and 21 April at Thamesmere Leisure Centre in Thamesmead. There will also be online webinars hosted by the airport’s Airspace Change Proposal team and a permanent exhibition at London City Airport.
Formal responses to the consultation must be submitted via the Citizen Space portal at consultations.airspacechange.co.uk/london-city-airport/rnp-ar-approaches. All responses will be reviewed, analyzed and published in a consultation response report later in 2026.
