London City Airport

About London City Airport

London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is a small international airport in the Royal Docks in the London Borough of Newham, about 5 miles (8 km) east of the City of London and a short DLR ride from Canary Wharf. It handles mainly short-haul flights within the UK and Europe, and many of its passengers travel for business. UK Civil Aviation Authority figures show that the airport handled 3,737,888 terminal passengers in 2025, around 3.7 million.

The airport is operated by London City Airport Limited. Macquarie Asset Management owns 75% of the airport after buying a 25% stake from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and a further 50% from AIMCo and OMERS in 2025. The remaining 25% is held by Wren House, the infrastructure investment arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority.

London City has a single runway, 09/27, which is 1,508 metres long, and one two-storey passenger terminal with 15 gates. Planning approval has been granted to raise the airport's annual passenger limit from 6.5 million to 9 million.

How to get to London City Airport

By train

London City Airport has its own station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with a lift from the platforms to the terminal building. Journeys take about 13 minutes to Canary Wharf and 21 minutes to Bank, where passengers can change to the London Underground. The Elizabeth line runs close to the airport but does not have a station serving it, so the DLR is the main rail link.

By road

Drivers from the M25 should leave at Junction 30 and continue to the airport on the A13. Official parking is available at the airport and can be booked in advance through the airport's parking website.

By bus and coach

Two London bus routes serve the airport:

• 473: runs between the airport and Stratford, taking around 40 minutes.
• 474: runs between the airport and Canning Town, taking around 25 minutes.

Terminal and facilities

The airport operates from a single, compact terminal, with short walking distances between the entrance, security and the departure gates. Services include:

• Assisted Travel, with trained staff supporting passengers with reduced mobility at each stage of their journey. Requests can be made in advance by emailing the assistance team.
• Fast track or alternative security screening for passengers who need extra support, arranged in advance through the assistance team.
• Portable hearing loops and free sunflower lanyards, available from the information desk in the main terminal.
• An airport concierge (meet and assist) service that can be booked in advance.
• A Private Jet Centre for business aviation passengers.

The London City Airport contact number is +44 (0)20 7646 0000, and the airport also offers an online get in touch page for enquiries.

Airlines and destinations

London City Airport focuses on short-haul routes to major European business centres, UK domestic destinations and the Channel Islands, with extra leisure routes to the Mediterranean in summer. British Airways, through its BA CityFlyer subsidiary, is the largest airline at the airport and is operating 24 destinations for summer 2026. Other airlines flying from London City in 2026 include KLM, Swiss, ITA Airways, Luxair, Loganair, Aurigny and Air Dolomiti. Routes include Amsterdam, Zurich and Milan Linate. Schedules change by season, so passengers should confirm routes with their airline.

History

London City Airport was built on former dockland in the Royal Docks by the engineering company Mowlem between 1986 and 1987. The first aircraft landed on 31 May 1987, scheduled services began on 26 October 1987, and the Queen officially opened the airport on 5 November 1987. The first routes linked London with Plymouth, Paris, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The runway was originally 1,080 metres long and was extended to its current 1,508 metres in 1992. The DLR station opened on 2 December 2005, giving the airport a direct rail link. Later investment through the City Airport Development Programme added new aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway and a terminal extension. In 2025 Macquarie Asset Management became the majority owner.