Helvetic Flight Marks First E190-E2 Service into London City

A Helvetic Airways Thursday evening flight from Zurich to London City Airport (LCY) marked the first service into the short-field, obstacle-limited field by the Embraer E190-E2. Registered HB-AZG, the Helvetic Airways aircraft made the trip in 1 hour 20 minutes, reestablishing an essential link for the global financial community.

The E190-E2 gained EASA approval for London City’s steep approach in May. The airport’s runway extends only 4,950 feet and requires descent angles of up to 5.5 degrees.

“Welcoming Swiss/Helvetic back to London City, and in the newest LCY-capable aircraft, Embraer’s E190-E2, is a significant milestone for London City,” said London City chief operating officer Alison FitzGerald. “It demonstrates how we are collaborating with manufacturers and airlines to introduce more low emissions, low noise aircraft to our airport, as well as re-establishing a vital business connection which we believe will go from strength to strength as the UK Government begins to further reduce barriers to travel. Our ambition is to be one of the most sustainable airports of our size in Europe, and it is my expectation that we will be welcoming more of these aircraft with more airlines as the industry recovers from COVID-19.”

Embraer aircraft account for nearly 90 percent of all movements at the airport. Meanwhile, the E190-E2 nearly doubles the available range from London City to some 2,200 nautical miles, bringing destinations such as Istanbul, Casablanca, and Moscow within reach, according to Embraer.

Helvetic Airways now flies eight E190-E2s, four first-generation E190s, and four E195-E2s. It took delivery of its first E195-E2 on June 23 and three more during July.