Lois Larson
London City Airport (LCY) is located in the Royal Docks area of London, serving the financial district. It is the closest airport to central London, situated just 9.5km (6 miles) east of the city centre and 4.8km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf. The airport is easily accessible by Tube, bus, taxi, or the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which is the UK's first fully accessible railway for wheelchair users. London City Airport is small compared to other London airports, with a single, two-storey passenger terminal building and a single runway.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | London Docklands, East London, UK |
| Proximity | 9.5km (6 miles) east of central London and 4.8km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf |
| Transport | Docklands Light Railway (DLR), bus, taxi |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible |
| Terminals | One, two-storey terminal building |
| Gates | 18 gates, all hardstands |
| Owner | Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and Highstar Capital (Highstar) |
| Year of opening | 1986 |
| Passenger numbers | 3.03 million (2012), 3.57 million (2024) |
| Passenger capacity | 6.5 million (planned increase to 9 million) |
| Aircraft movements | Fifth-busiest airport serving the London area |
| Runway length | 1,199m |
| Destinations | 31 across the UK and Europe |
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What You'll Learn
London City Airport is located in the London Borough of Newham
London City Airport is easily accessible by road and public transport. The airport has its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which is connected to the terminal building via an enclosed walkway. The DLR connects to the rest of the London Underground network, with trains running every 4 to 10 minutes. Local bus routes also serve the airport, but these are only for the immediate local area. Taxis are also available at the airport, with a dedicated taxi rank.
The airport is located in what was once the old London Docks, which covered a vast area of East London along the River Thames. The London Docklands were redeveloped from the 1980s, transforming the district into a modern financial and commercial area with apartments and restaurants. The runway of London City Airport is situated next to one of the old docks, which still accommodates sea-going leisure ships.
London City Airport first opened to the public in October 1986, with the first commercial services operating from October 1987. The airport has seen significant growth and development since its opening, with continuous improvements made to its infrastructure and facilities. The airport's master plan outlines forecasts and plans for accommodating eight million passengers by 2030.
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It is the closest airport to central London
London City Airport (LCY) is the closest airport to central London, just 9.5km (6 miles) away. It is located in the Royal Docks area of London, in the borough of Newham, and principally serves the financial district. The airport is easily accessible by Tube, bus or taxi, and its location makes arrivals and departures much quicker and easier than larger airports in London. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is the cheapest and most popular way to get to the airport, with trains running every 4 to 10 minutes. The DLR is also accessible for wheelchair users, with lifts, escalators, ramps and level platforms at every station.
London City Airport is small compared to other London airports, with a single, two-storey passenger terminal building and 18 gates. The ground floor contains check-in desks, service facilities and a staircase leading to security control on the upper level. The airport's single runway is 1,199m in length, which means it can only accommodate smaller jets for short-haul flights. Despite its size, London City Airport still serves 31 destinations across the UK and Europe and is the fifth-busiest airport in the London area.
The airport first opened to the public in October 1986, with the first commercial services operating from October 1987. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in November 1987. In 2012, the airport underwent a £7 million refurbishment to extend the Central Search area and improve the departure lounge. In 2023, plans were approved to increase the passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9 million, with more morning flights between 6 am and 9 am.
London City Airport is a popular choice for business travellers due to its proximity to the financial district and its efficient check-in times. It is also well-connected to other parts of the Transport for London (TfL) network, including the Elizabeth line, London Overground and London Underground. For visitors to London, it is worth buying a Visitor Oyster Card in advance to make journeys on the London Underground easier.
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The airport is easily accessible by tube, bus or taxi
London City Airport is located in the Docklands area of East London, just 5 miles from the city centre. It is easily accessible by tube, bus or taxi.
Tube
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) serves London City Airport and provides fast connections to central London and other London transport networks. London City Airport DLR station is located in fare Zone 3, with trains departing every 4 to 10 minutes depending on the destination. The DLR is a step-free network, with a lift connecting the station platforms to the main airport terminal.
Bus
There are several buses serving the airport, all of which have step-free wheelchair access.
Taxi
There is a taxi rank at London City Airport, with taxis available for pick-up and drop-off.
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London City Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in London
The history of London City Airport dates back to 1981 when Reg Ward, the Chief Executive of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC), first proposed the idea. Outline planning permission was granted in 1985, and the airport opened to the public in October 1986, with Queen Elizabeth II officially opening it in November of the same year. The airport has seen several enhancements and developments over the years, including the addition of new departure gates, improvement of baggage handling areas, and expansion of the departure lounge.
London City Airport is unique in that it is located in the former London Docks, which underwent significant redevelopment in the 1980s. The runway is situated next to one of the old docks, and the airport's proximity to the River Thames makes it a convenient gateway to the city. The airport has a single runway measuring 1,199 meters in length, which can only accommodate smaller jets for short-haul flights.
In recent years, there has been a shift towards leisure destinations, with an increase in flights to places like Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, and Chambéry. The airport is busiest during the winter months when airlines operate flights to ski resort destinations. In July 2023, plans were approved to increase the passenger cap to 9 million, up from 6.5 million previously. London City Airport continues to play a vital role in serving business and leisure travellers alike, offering quick and easy access to and from London.
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The airport is small compared to other London airports
London City Airport is a small airport located in the London Borough of Newham, just off the River Thames and 6 miles east of Central London. It is the closest airport to Central London and is easily accessible by Tube, bus, taxi, or the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The DLR is the cheapest and most popular mode of transport to the airport, with trains departing every 8 to 15 minutes and a journey time of only 7 minutes to Canning Town, where passengers can interchange to the Jubilee Line.
The airport has a single, two-storey passenger terminal building with 18 gates, all hardstands. The ground floor contains the check-in desks, some service facilities, and a staircase leading to security control on the upper level. The airside waiting area is located on the upper level, along with several shops, and is connected to piers on both sides, where corridors lead to the departure gates on the ground level. London City Airport's single runway is 1,508 metres long (4,948 feet) and can only accommodate smaller jets due to its relatively short length.
Compared to other London airports, London City Airport is relatively small in terms of size and passenger volume. In 2019, the airport handled 4.8 million passengers, which is significantly lower than Heathrow's 81 million passengers that same year. Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southend, and Luton airports all have multiple terminals and longer runways, allowing them to accommodate larger aircraft and a higher volume of passengers. For example, Heathrow has four terminals and two parallel runways, while Luton has one terminal surrounded by taxiways, requiring a tunnel for access.
London City Airport's small size and limited capacity have historically made it a popular choice for business travellers, with British Airways as the airport's primary operator. However, the airport has seen an increase in leisure destinations served and is currently undergoing a significant construction project to increase its capacity. Despite its size, London City Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in London by passenger movements, handling 5.1 million passengers in 2019 and 3.57 million in 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
London City Airport is in the Royal Docks area of London, in the borough of Newham.
London City Airport is easily accessible by Tube, bus or taxi. The airport has its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which connects to Canning Town, Stratford and Bank stations.
London City Airport is the closest airport to central London, located just 9.5km (6 miles) east of the city centre.
London City Airport is the fifth-busiest airport serving the London area, after Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. In 2024, the airport handled 3.57 million passenger movements.
London City Airport has a single, two-storey passenger terminal building with 18 gates. The ground floor contains check-in desks, service facilities and a staircase leading to security control on the upper level. The departure lounge has shops, bars and cafes.
