ExcelAire (Stand Nos. 908/200) has received UK Civil Aviation Authority approval to operate its Embraer Legacy 600s into London City Airport (LCY) and is offering charter services effective immediately. The company, which is based at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York–around 50 miles from Manhattan–has started to promote itself as offering a new gateway to New York City, claiming Islip to be “the logical alternative to the congestion of Teterboro.” Twenty-minute helicopter transfers are operated between Islip and New York’s East River Heliport by ExcelAire partner Heliflite.

To receive permission to operate into London City, ExcelAire’s three Legacy aircraft have been modified to meet the unique operating requirements, while its pilots received training for steep approaches at FlightSafety International’s training center in Paris.

LCY has a 5.5-deg glideslope, significantly greater than the 3-deg used by most airports. Close to London’s financial district, LCY has been open for 21 years and is currently preparing for launch next year of British Airways’ new business services to New York using Airbus A318s. The airport is minutes away from the venues for the 2012 Olympic Games and recently received government approval to increase its annual movements.