Bombardier's Global 8000 cleared to land at London City Airport

Business aviation’s most valuable commodity isn’t speed. It’s time. Bombardier says its London City Airport approval could save Global 8000 operators up to 90 minutes every trip into one of the world’s most important financial centers. Bombardier announced on Sept. 10 that the Global 8000 has received U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval, effective immediately, to land at London City Airport (LCY). London City mandates all incoming aircraft to perform a steep landing approach to compensate for noise-abatement laws and the very short runway, which requires specialized training for pilots. This is really about downtown access Many major airports capable of handling large business jets are located well outside city centers. Traditionally these airports had the space to expand as business and commercial jets got larger. Some airports like London City that are located within city limits have been unable to grow and remain constrained to smaller aircraft. This often means passengers face lengthy ground transportation times before reaching their final destinations. The ability to land at smaller airports closer to the city center can mean the difference between a day trip and spending the night in a hotel. Passengers traveling to London on large business jets will typically have to use the Farnborough and Luton airports, but Bombardier claims that LCY access may reduce ground transportation times by 60 to 90 minutes. The company specifically highlighted nonstop missions from cities like Singapore, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Buenos Aires to downtown London. Why it matters The winning aircraft are no longer just the ones that fly the farthest or the fastest. As performance differences narrow among flagship jets, manufacturers are looking for ways to expand what owners can do with the airplane. Many ultra-long-range jets can fly across oceans, but far fewer can combine intercontinental range with access to one of Europe’s most space-constrained and strategically located airports. By adding London City Airport to the Global 8000’s mission profile, Bombardier has strengthened the aircraft’s appeal for operators whose priorities extend beyond range and speed.