London City Airport (LCY)
London City Airport (LCY) is the closest airport to central London, sitting in the Royal Docks in Newham, just 6 miles east of the City of London. It handles 5 million passengers a year from a single compact terminal and is built around one thing: speed. Kerb to gate in under 20 minutes is routine, making LCY the preferred choice for business travellers who value their time above all else.
London has six airports with scheduled flights. Compare the London airports on distance to the centre, destinations, airlines and the lowest fares seen.
The airport's location between two DLR lines means a 22-minute ride to Bank station in the City, which is faster door-to-door than the tube from Heathrow for many passengers based in the East End, Canary Wharf or the City of London. The DLR runs every 8–10 minutes and accepts Oyster and contactless.
A notable quirk of LCY is its famously steep approach — the short 1,508m runway demands a 5.5-degree glideslope, compared with the standard 3 degrees elsewhere. First-time passengers often find the sharp descent memorable. The airport's route network focuses on high-frequency European business routes operated by BA CityFlyer and easyJet.
Most popular routes
London City Airport's single terminal
The terminal is deliberately compact — it was designed to process passengers as fast as possible. Security queues are short by London standards, and the single airside area means no gate bus transfers to aircraft. All stands are served by airbridge or short walk.
The airport cannot accommodate wide-body jets due to the short runway length (1,508m). Aircraft operating from LCY include the Embraer E170/E190, ATR 72, and the specialised steep-approach-certified Airbus A318 used by BA CityFlyer on the New York JFK service.
⚠️ Always confirm your departure gate on the screens — at busy times gates fill quickly and boarding can begin 30 minutes before departure.
Transport to London City Airport
| DLR to Bank (City of London) | 22 min · Oyster/contactless £3.50 (Zone 3→1) |
| DLR to Canary Wharf | 33 min · Zone 2 · Oyster/contactless £2.80 |
| DLR to Stratford | ~20 min · interchange for Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth lines |
| Taxi to central London | ~30–45 min · approx £30–40 |
| Rideshare (Uber/Bolt) | ~30–45 min · approx £22–35 |
| Drive (A13/A1020) | 6 miles east of the City · parking very limited |
Parking options
London City Airport has very limited on-site parking. Most passengers use the DLR — it's faster and far cheaper than driving.
Airlines flying from London City Airport
London City Airport jobs
No listing named London City Airport on 6 Nov. Vacancies within 5 miles, and where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots, are on the jobs page.
Things to do near London City Airport
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London City Airport FAQs
In the week to 6 Nov we saw non-stop fares from London City to 30 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Amsterdam £64, Belfast City £66, Milan £66, Edinburgh £67 and Glasgow £67.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £64 to Amsterdam with KLM, for travel on 17 Dec (seen on 29 Oct). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from London City this week: British Airways (27 destinations) and Iberia (5 destinations).
Yes — London City is consistently rated the fastest London airport for check-in and security. Its compact single-terminal layout means kerb to gate in under 20 minutes is realistic on normal travel days. BA CityFlyer offers an expedited service, and the airport recommends arriving just 60–90 minutes before departure for short-haul flights (versus 2–3 hours at Heathrow or Gatwick).
London City's short 1,508m runway requires aircraft to fly a steep 5.5-degree glideslope on approach — nearly double the standard 3-degree angle at most airports. This is due to the runway's position in dense urban East London, surrounded by DLR infrastructure and tall buildings. Passengers often notice the sharp descent and nose-up attitude on landing. Pilots must be specially certified for the approach.
London City Airport has noise and runway restrictions that effectively limit scheduled aircraft to smaller, quieter types — mostly jets of 80–100 seats such as the Embraer E170/E190 and regional jets. Wide-body jets cannot operate from LCY. This keeps capacity lower than other London airports but ensures fast turnarounds and a quieter environment for the surrounding residential area.
Yes. Two lounges operate airside: the BA Lounge (British Airways eligible passengers only — business class, Gold/Silver Executive Club, or certain credit cards) and the 1903 Lounge, which is open to any passenger for a fee. The 1903 Lounge accepts Priority Pass and Lounge Key. Pre-book online for the best rates.
London City Airport has very limited and expensive on-site short-stay parking. Most passengers use the DLR, which is direct from the terminal and significantly cheaper. If you must drive, pre-book the official short-stay car park — spaces are strictly limited and on-the-day prices are very high.
A black cab or minicab from London City Airport to central London (City of London, Canary Wharf, West End) costs approximately £30–40 depending on destination and traffic. The DLR is significantly faster and cheaper for most central London destinations.