en.Wedoany.com Reported - The London Assembly Environment Committee has recently written to airport management, expressing concerns over a proposal to allow larger aircraft to land at London City Airport, warning that it could lead to increased noise pollution.

As the most centrally located airport in the capital, London City Airport received government approval in 2024 to increase its passenger capacity by 40%. This decision overturned previous objections from Newham Council. The application did not involve an increase in the total number of flights; instead, the capacity boost would be achieved by allowing airlines to deploy new-generation, high-capacity aircraft that produce lower noise levels during landing compared to other aircraft of similar size.

However, in a letter to airport CEO Andy Cliffe, the London Assembly Environment Committee highlighted concerns over a proposed modification to the approach path. This modification is intended to enable the Airbus A320neo to use the airport.

The A320neo is designed to be quieter than older-generation aircraft, with "neo" standing for New Engine Option. For residents near the runway, its perceived noise during takeoff is expected to be roughly halved. This improvement is attributed to modern engine designs featuring larger fan diameters and higher bypass ratios, allowing more air to bypass the engine core rather than passing directly through it.

Although the A320neo may have a noise advantage over aircraft of similar size, London City Airport has previously only accommodated smaller aircraft. The airport's runway is less than half the length of those at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted. Currently, modern regional jets serving the airport, such as the Airbus A220 or the Embraer 190 E2, use quieter, smaller engines. Due to its larger size and weight, the A320neo is up to 4 decibels louder than these smaller competitors.

A review conducted by the Aviation Environment Federation in assessing the expansion proposal noted that it questioned the suitability of the aircraft used for comparative modeling, suggesting that the E190 may not be an appropriate benchmark. The committee added in its letter that this change, along with the introduction of larger aircraft at London City Airport, could be used to launch new leisure routes, potentially leading to an increase in total flight numbers and resulting in overall disruption in terms of emissions and noise.

Thomas Turrell, a member of the City Hall Conservatives, holds a different view. He believes the London City Airport proposal is reasonable and may instead reduce noise and disruption for residents, adding that rejecting the request could jeopardize the airport's long-term future.

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