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Central London's compact business aviation gateway.
Opened
1987
Location
London, United Kingdom
London City Airport (LCY) is a commercial airport located in the Royal Docks area of east London, approximately 10 kilometres from the City of London financial district. It opened in 1987 and is uniquely positioned within the urban core, making it a preferred choice for business travellers seeking fast access to London's financial and commercial centres.
The airport operates under strict planning constraints, including a steep 5.5-degree instrument approach glide slope and limits on aircraft size and noise, meaning only specially certified aircraft and turboprop planes can use the runway. Despite its small footprint, LCY serves numerous European destinations and transatlantic routes.
A major redevelopment programme, approved in 2016, expanded the airport's capacity to handle up to 9 million passengers per year. The airport is owned by a consortium led by Carlyle Group and other investors.
Terminals
London City Airport operates a single integrated terminal building designed for quick passenger throughput, with a compact layout that allows most passengers to move from check-in to gate in under 20 minutes.
Getting to & from
The airport is served by the London Overground and Elizabeth line interchange at Custom House, with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) providing direct connections to Canary Wharf and central London.
Airlines here
British Airways and its subsidiary BA CityFlyer operate as the dominant carriers, alongside Aer Lingus, KLM, Lufthansa, and SAS, with American Airlines having previously operated transatlantic services.
Notable facts
- ›The airport's runway is only 1,508 metres long, one of the shortest used by scheduled jet services in the world.
- ›Aircraft must use a steep 5.5-degree glide slope approach, roughly twice the standard angle, due to the airport's urban surroundings.
- ›LCY was the first airport in the world to offer remote digital air traffic control, implemented in 2020.
- ›The airport handled approximately 5.1 million passengers in 2019, its record year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ›Operating hours are restricted to reduce noise impact on surrounding residential areas, with no overnight flights permitted.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
