LONDON CITY AIRPORT welcomed the first ever visit by an Airbus on
Saturday 13 May, in this case an A318. In March the authorities
granted the A318 a steep approach certification enabling compatibility
tests to take place. This is an important part of the programme aimed
at enabling the aircraft to undertake commercial flights at the
airport. Substantially bigger with a maximum of 132 seats and with a
much longer range, than the aircraft currently using London City the
A318 represents the future of LCY, an aircraft available new unlike
the AVRO/BAe 146 series aircraft that currently predominate, but are
out of production. Offering getting on for twice the range of existing
aircraft serving the airport, the A318 will allow commercial operators
to offer new markets such as Rome, Madrid and Eastern Europe. The
A318 Elite corporate jet version could operate even further afield.
Problems still have to be overcome regarding full certification and
apron space but in the meantime the airport is now, like Exeter, up for
sale. A piece of perfect Irish timing.
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