London City Airport has welcomed the Embraer E195-E2 operated by Helvetic Airways – marking it the largest currently operating aircraft to operate to the airport.
Welcoming the Helvetic Airways Embraer E195-E2 at London City Airport – Image, London City Airport.
The flight was operated by Helvetic Airways on behalf of SWISS International Air Lines. In doing so, Helvetic Airways is making history at London City Airport for the second time in three and a half years: After the Swiss regional airline became the world’s first commercial airline to land an Embraer E190-E2 at London City Airport in the autumn of 2021.
Helvetic Airways’ Embraer E195-E2 was the first aircraft of this type to touch down on the runway of London City Airport as part of a regular scheduled flight. With a length of 41.5 metres and a total of 134 seats, the E195-E2 is now the largest aircraft flying from London City Airport.
The E195-E2 also has the lowest fuel consumption per seat of all aircraft operating at London City.
London City Airport has a much higher glide path to the airport, (with it being 5.5° – compared to the normal slope of an airport glide path is 3.0°). In addition, it has a short runway, which can constrain what aircraft can fly, and how far.
In Quotes
Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, in London during the celebrations for the maiden flight said
“Due to its steep approach, London City Airport places high demands on both the aircraft and the specially trained cockpit crews. Helvetic Airways has both, and we are proud to be the first airline to bring the larger E195-E2 to London City Airport following its premiere with the Embraer E190-E2 in 2021. This makes us the only wet-lease operator in the world to land at London City with three different Embraer aircraft, allowing us to offer our wet-lease customers the greatest possible flexibility”,
Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, said
“We’re delighted to welcome the first commercial flight of the E195-E2 aircraft to London City, which demonstrates our commitment to working with our airlines and manufacturers to introduce cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft to the airport.
“The E195-E2 opens up a range of new and exciting destinations for our passengers, and by using quieter and cleaner aircraft this enables us to grow and meet our passenger cap without increasing the number of flight movements.”
Marie-Louise Philippe, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Head of Region Europe and Central Asia, Embraer Commercial Aviation added:
“London City, where 75% of flights are on Embraer aircraft, is a special place for us. It’s great to celebrate another milestone in the E2 story with our partners from Helvetic Airways and London City”, said
“Offering 30% lower CO2 emissions per seat and a 63% smaller noise footprint compared to the previous generation aircraft, the E195-E2 is the largest, most efficient, and most sustainable aircraft certified for LCY.”
“Embraer has developed the world’s first automatic takeoff system for aircraft called E2TS – Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System. When certified, E2TS will increase the range of the E195-E2, specifically from LCY, from 3200 km to 4000 km. Bringing new destinations such as Istanbul, Gran Canaria, Casablanca, Athens, and Cairo and within range of London City for the first time.”
But yet larger aircraft still…
It’s welcoming to see the largest of the E2 family finally getting the certifications in to operate safely at London City Airport – which should open up more options for those airlines who want to fly the type there.
However, London City Airport wants to go bigger. In the past, the largest aircraft to serve the airport was the Airbus A318 (in a special all-business configuration). In a proposal earlier this year, they announced an intention that they wish to allow the Airubs A320neo to operate at the airport, which would beat the seat count of the E195-E2 (with the E195-E2 configured with 134 seats, whilst an A320neo can be configured with 156 seats in a two-class configuration, 186 seats in an all-economy configuration).
We’ll have to see if this gets the nod – but for now, the aircraft that can carry the most passengers in and out of London City Airport is Embraer E195-E2.
And for SWISS and Helvetic Airways, more seats to offer to business and leisure customers.
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