Helvetic’s E195-E2 Sets Record at London City

London-City Airport marked a historic moment as an Embraer E195-E2 regional jet on March 26, operated by Helvetic Airways and registered HB-AZI, touched down at 12:01 local time. The aircraft, flying a scheduled flight from Zurich with flight number LX456 on behalf of SWISS International, became the largest ever to land on a regular scheduled service at LCY.

This milestone surpassed previous records, including the Airbus A318 operated by British Airways to New York until 2020, and represents the culmination of four years of collaboration between Helvetic Airways and Embraer. Helvetic first demonstrated the capabilities of the E195-E2 during a trial flight to London-City in the autumn of 2021, paving the way for its commercial debut at this iconic airport.

The Embraer E195-E2, with a length of 41.5 meters and a total capacity of 134 seats, is set to become a regular fixture on SWISS routes from London-City under a wet-lease agreement with the Swiss national carrier. According to Embraer, the aircraft offers the lowest fuel consumption per seat of all models operating at LCY, a critical advantage given the airport’s location in a densely populated area of East London. The maiden flight departed Zurich at 11:45 local time and, after a flight lasting approximately one hour and 15 minutes, landed on runway 09 just after midday. During its approach, the aircraft flew just south of the airport, offering passengers on the right side of the cabin a scenic view of London’s center. For the occasion, it was adorned with a special decal reading “E195-E2 Largest aircraft in LCY” on its rear fuselage.

Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, emphasized the challenges presented by the steep approach at London-City, noting that both the aircraft and its specially trained cockpit crews had to perform at the highest level. He proudly stated that Helvetic is the first airline to operate the larger E195-E2 at LCY following its earlier introduction of the Embraer E190-E2 in 2021, making the carrier the only airline in the world to land three different Embraer aircraft at this unique airport. Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London-City Airport, expressed her delight in welcoming the first commercial flight of the E195-E2, adding that the new aircraft demonstrates the airport’s commitment to partnering with airlines and manufacturers to introduce cleaner, quieter, next-generation aircraft. She highlighted that the E195-E2 not only opens up a range of new and exciting destinations but also allows the airport to grow and meet its passenger cap without increasing the number of flight movements.

Marie-Louise Philippe, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Embraer Commercial Aviation, noted that London-City is a special place for Embraer, where 75% of flights are operated with its aircraft. She pointed out that the E195-E2 offers 30% lower CO2 emissions per seat and a 63% smaller noise footprint compared to previous-generation models, making it the largest, most efficient, and most sustainable aircraft certified for LCY. Philippe also mentioned the development of the world’s first automatic take-off system, E2TS, which, once certified, will extend the range of the E195-E2 from London-City from 3,200 km to 4,000 km, enabling new destinations such as Istanbul, Gran Canaria, Casablanca, Athens, and Cairo. With SWISS also operating flights from Zurich using its Airbus A220-100s, London-City Airport continues to offer a diverse array of aircraft choices, reinforcing its position as a premier hub for regional travel.

Tags: Aerotime

Helvetic’s E195-E2 Sets Record at London City

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