Originally Posted by
SKOJB
Initially proposed on the proviso that the added hours were flown by E2/A220 aircraft. From this article it seems this is no longer the case and instead ‘might’ incentivise greener fleets for the future!
The main aim is to allow based aircraft to make meaningful return Saturday flights to Mediterranean destinations. The current LCY operators of E2/A220 aircraft are based in Europe, and have no issue doing an in/out on Saturday mornings, so this seems aimed squarely at BA Cityflyer, who have been suspected of looking at fleet replacements. Extra Saturday utilisation might be part of this financial justification, with each (BA for replacement and the council for permission) wanting to wait for the other to move.
If I was LCY having to pull this together I would be emphasising that allowing the Saturday flights would allow BA to justify starting to replacing their entire based fleet, with noise benefits all week, not just the new operations. Give the permission, restrict it to the new types, with an exemption for say the first three years to allow the new aircraft to be ordered and start introduction.
If LCY want further offsets, offer to withdraw the permission for the Piaggio Avanti business turboprop, only a few come through but which, whatever its official certification numbers, seems to make noise beyond anything previously used at the airport. It's even prominent when overflying at altitude !