Noise Lessons for London City Airport
19th December, 2025
AEF recently produced a report for HACAN East, a campaign group for residents affected by London City Airport noise, on the noise impact of introducing the Airbus A320neo at the airport.
What are the proposals at London City?
The airport currently operates a steeper than standard glide angle of 5.5 degrees due to the airport’s proximity to tall buildings and to provide noise mitigation for the heavily residential local area. London City has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority to permit a shallower approach for the A320neo, a new generation aircraft that is larger than the existing fleet. The proposals suggest that these changes will reduce the noise footprint of the airport, but there are a number of outstanding questions to consider to understand the full noise impacts.
Is the A320neo quieter than the aircraft currently using the airport?
This depends on which aircraft are being compared, with the proposals focusing on the older Embraer E190. Based on a review of published data, the A320neo was generally quieter than the E190 but louder than other new generation aircraft at LCY, including the Airbus A220, Embraer 190 E2 and Embraer 195 E2. The margins of difference vary significantly between aircraft variants and noise measurement points, and in some cases the benefit of the A320neo is very slim.
What needs to be done?
AEF proposes that real-world measurements be taken to determine how introducing the A320neo on a shallower glide slope would affect overall noise impact. Serious consideration should be given to the projected fleet mixes under the baseline and proposal scenarios. Transparency in the data behind these projections is needed to fully assess whether the proposals will reduce the total adverse impacts on health and quality of life from aviation noise at London City Airport.
The proposals are at the consultation stage, with the relevant documents available here and you can read or download our report below.