The Swiss airline Helvetic Airways made aviation history again on March 26, 2025. For the first time, an Embraer E195-E2 aircraft touched down on the short runway at London City Airport in regular scheduled service. The flight was operated under wet lease for Swiss International Air Lines and departed from Zurich. With a length of 41,5 meters and 134 seats, the E195-E2 is the largest aircraft to operate at London City Airport to date.
The landing represents a technical challenge, as the airport's steep approach angle and limited space are only approved for select aircraft types and specially trained pilots. Helvetic Airways had already achieved a similar milestone in 2021 with a smaller Embraer E190-E2. This makes the airline the first in the world to operate with three different Embraer models at London City Airport.
London City Airport is currently served by numerous Embraer aircraft, which account for approximately 75 percent of flight movements. Embraer is also developing an enhanced takeoff system for its E2 series, which is expected to significantly increase the range of the E195-E2 from London City Airport. Once certified, destinations such as Istanbul, Athens, and Cairo could also be directly accessible in the future.
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