London City Airport has launched a new public consultation on its previously proposed Airspace Change Proposal (ACP), inviting local communities, stakeholders and members of the public to comment on plans to introduce an additional, shallower landing approach for specific new-generation aircraft.

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

Currently, all aircraft approaching London City Airport (LCY) must do so at a steep, 5.5-degree approach due to the airport’s location. The airport recently proposed the introduction of an additional 4.49‑degree approach, which would be made possible via the use of high precision, satellite-based navigation.

This procedure would be available only to a certain set of specifically authorised new-generation aircraft, such as the Airbus A320neo, whilst the majority of aircraft would continue to use the existing 5.5-degree approach.

At this stage, the proposal does not involve any changes to existing flight paths, with all aircraft set to continue to fly over the same areas as they currently do today. The only change would relate to the vertical profile in the final few kilometres prior to landing, with departure routes remaining totally unchanged.

The change has been proposed to support the airport’s ability to meet future demand as it grows towards the government approved cap of nine million passengers per year. Currently, the existing steep approach limits the types of aircraft able to serve the airport, and allowing new-generation aircraft with greater capacity and fuel efficiency to operate at London City would enable an accommodation in passenger growth whilst keeping the growth of the number of flights to a minimum.

Independent assessments have shown that the proposed change would deliver a number of benefits, including an estimated saving of 18,380 tonnes of CO2 and 5,780 tonnes of fuel; a net economic benefit of between 38.4 million GBP and 97.4 million GBP; reduced overall noise exposure for an additional 110,000 people; and approximately 76,500 fewer flights over a 12-year period when compared to a scenario without this change.

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 will run from Monday 2 March until Sunday 17 May 2026, and will be open to anyone with an interest in the proposal. Full documentation, technical assessments and explanatory materials are available online at the London City Airport website, here.

A number of in-person drop-in events will be held during the consultation period:

A series of online webinars hosted by the airport’s ACP team will also be made available, as well as a permanent ACP exhibition at London City Airport.