2 days Ago By Peter Hanson
Just a few days ago, on Wednesday, March 26, an Embraer E195-E2 flown by Helvetic Airways on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines touched down at the small London city airport (LCY). This occasion marks the first commercial E195-E2 flight at the airport, but also makes it the largest jet to commercially operate there. The impact of this development was reported in a joint press release from Helvetic Airways, LCY and Embraer, who highlighted that the E195-E2 has the lowest fuel consumption per seat of all aircraft operating from the airport.
This, and the aircraft's other green credentials, allow the airport to move more passengers without exceeding climate restrictions held within London's city limits. Thanks to the improved range the E195-E2 brings to the table, the use of this aircraft also opens up the possibility of distant destinations becoming accessible from LCY. Ever-growing revenue from commercial aircraft has allowed Embraer to recover to profitability in 2023.
LCY is not an easy airport for larger aircraft This first commercial flight was not the first time that an E195-E2 had touched down at LCY. As was mentioned in this article , Simple Flying was onboard the E2 Tech Lion demonstrator when it made its inaugural flight to LCY in 2022, setting off from Farnborough airport, the day after the famous local Airshow . Due to the crowded London skyline, a plane the size of the E2 would need to take steep ascent and descent pathways in order to utilize the airport.
The flight was the first public showing of the Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS), which had been designed to assist with the steep takeoff and landing pathways the E2 would take to operate at the airport. The E2TS system has increased the range of destinations the E2 can reach from LCY. Marie-Louise Philippe, Senior V.
P. of Sales & Marketing, and Head of Embraer's Europe division, said the following about the E2TS: “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.” At a typical airport, where normal ascent and descent pathways can be taken, the E2 has a longer range of 5500km (3000 nautical miles), but the increase of performance from this specific airport opens up many pathways for international travel with England's capital city. Due to Embraer's longstanding relationship with the airport, this development only deepens links between the manufacturer and LCY.
“London City, where 75% of flights are on Embraer aircraft, is a special place for us”, said Phillipe. "It’s great to celebrate another milestone in the E2 story with our partners from Helvetic Airways and London City, 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.” More options for London aviation customers Customers having the option of flying internationally from LCY, rather than the more distant London Heathrow Airport , is a great thing for aviation customers.
Helvetic Airways operates out of Zurich Airport, Switzerland The private jet company operates up to 15 aircraft on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines under a long-term wet-lease agreement. A wet lease is a leasing arrangement in which one party (Helvetic in this case) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline or business entity (Swiss International). Helvetic uses Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2 as well as E190 and E195 aircraft on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights, and being able to land the E2 at LCY will significantly improve the services possible to be rendered from the airport.
After the first flight, which took off from Zurich at 11.30 a.m.
and landed at London City Airport shortly after midday, Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways celebrated in London, saying: “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.
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