London City Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids London City Airport
IATA: LCY ICAO: EGLC
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Consortium of AIMCo, OMERS, OTPP and the Kuwait Investment Authority
Operator	London City Airport Ltd.
Serves	Greater London and Kent
Location	Royal Docks, Newham, London, England
Opened	26 October 1987; 37 years ago (1987-10-26)
Elevation AMSL	19 ft / 6 m
Coordinates	51°30′19″N 000°03′19″E / 51.50528°N 0.05528°E / 51.50528; 0.05528
Map
LCY/EGLC Location in Greater London
Runway
Runway Length Surface m ft 09/27 1,508 4,948 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Passengers 3,009,313 Passenger change 21-22 318% Aircraft Movements 44,731 Movements change 21-22 246%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS WAD Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority

London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is an international airport in London, England. It is located in the Royal Docks area of Newham, about 6 miles (10 km) east of the City of London. This area is a major financial hub, and many business travelers use the airport.

The airport was built by the engineering company Mowlem between 1986 and 1987. In 2016, a group of Canadian and Kuwaiti companies bought it. London City Airport has one runway that is 1,508 meters (4,948 feet) long. Special rules apply to planes flying here because of its location. Only certain types of aircraft can use it, like the Airbus A318.

In 2019, over 5 million passengers traveled through London City Airport. It is the fifth busiest airport serving the London area.

Airport History

Building the Airport

The idea for London City Airport came about in 1981. Reg Ward, who was in charge of developing the London Docklands, suggested it. He talked with Sir Philip Beck from Mowlem, and the plan for an airport in the Docklands began.

A plaque remembering Captain Harry Gee's landing at Heron Quays DLR station in 1982.

To show that an airport could work there, Captain Harry Gee landed a small plane called a de Havilland Canada Dash 7 on Heron Quays in June 1982. After this, a study showed that local people mostly supported the airport. Mowlem then asked for permission to build it.

After a long public discussion, permission to build the airport was given in May 1985. Construction started soon after. Prince Charles (now King Charles III) laid the first stone for the terminal building in May 1986. The first plane landed on May 31, 1987. Regular flights started on October 26, 1987. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the airport in November of that year.

Early Years and Runway Changes

In its first full year, 1988, the airport served 133,000 passengers. Early flights went to places like Plymouth, Paris, and Amsterdam. The runway was only 1,080 meters (3,543 feet) long. Also, planes had to land at a steep 7.5-degree angle to reduce noise. This meant only a few types of planes, like the De Havilland Canada Dash 7, could use the airport.

In 1989, the airport asked to make the runway longer. By 1990, passenger numbers reached 230,000. The numbers dropped during the Gulf War but recovered by 1993. The longer runway opened on March 5, 1992. The landing angle was also changed to 5.5 degrees. This was still steep but allowed more types of planes, like the British Aerospace 146 and Airbus A318, to use the airport.

By 1995, half a million passengers used the airport. In 2000, this number grew to 1.58 million. A special area for private jets opened in 2002.

Growing the Airport

A de Havilland Canada Dash 7 making its steep approach to London City Airport in 1988.

On December 2, 2005, the London City Airport DLR station opened. This gave the airport its first train link, connecting it quickly to Canary Wharf and the City of London. By 2006, over 2.3 million passengers used the airport.

In 2006, a group of companies bought the airport. In 2008, the airport added four new parking spots for planes and four new gates. These were built on stilts over the water of the King George V Dock.

In September 2009, British Airways started the first regular flights across the Atlantic Ocean from London City Airport. These flights went to New York City using a special Airbus A318 plane.

London Olympics 2012

The airport terminal building.

Inside the airport terminal.

Planes parked at the airport.

Before the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, over £7 million was spent to improve the terminal. During the Games, the airport had limited hours and security rules. However, it was the closest airport to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Future Plans and Changes

In 2013, work began on a £15 million project to improve the airport. This included new departure gates and better lounges. The airport also has a long-term plan to grow and handle 8 million passengers each year by 2030. This plan does not include building a second runway.

The plans involve adding more plane parking spots and a taxiway next to the runway. This would help planes move around more easily. The airport also wants to move its fuel storage and replace the car park with a multi-story one. Eventually, the terminal building might be replaced.

In 2007, the airport asked for permission to increase flights from 80,000 to 120,000 per year. Many local residents were asked for their opinions. Some were worried about noise and pollution, while others supported the airport for bringing jobs and helping the local economy. After some delays, the expansion plan was approved in July 2016.

Recent Changes

In 2016, a group of Canadian and Kuwaiti companies bought the airport for £2 billion. In September 2016, British Airways stopped one of its daily business-class flights to New York. In March 2020, British Airways stopped all its flights to New York from London City Airport due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline later confirmed these flights would not return.

In January 2021, London City Airport became the first major airport in the UK to use a remote air traffic control tower. This means controllers manage flights from a building 80 miles away in Swanwick, Hampshire, using live video.

In April 2023, London City Airport became the first major UK airport to drop the 100-millilitre liquid rule for carry-on bags. Passengers can now bring up to 2 liters of liquids in their hand luggage.

Airport Operations

The airport at night, with Canary Wharf in the background.

An overview of the apron and runway, with The O2 in the distance.

Where Planes Fly

Because London City Airport is close to London's financial district, many business travelers use it. They fly to cities like Luxembourg and Frankfurt. However, more leisure destinations like Palma de Mallorca and Málaga have been added recently.

The airport is busiest in winter. Many airlines fly to ski resorts like Zürich, Geneva, and Milan. In July 2020, British Airways stopped its special business-class flights to New York-JFK.

Airport Rules and Planes Used

The airport has strict rules to keep noise down because it is so close to Central London. The runway is 1,508 meters (4,948 feet) long, and planes land at a steep angle. These things limit which types of planes can use the airport.

The airport is very busy during peak times. Air traffic controllers manage over 38 flights per hour. The airport is open from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM on weekdays. On Saturdays, it is open from 6:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and on Sundays, from 12:30 PM to 10:30 PM. These times are set to control noise.

Many types of planes use London City Airport. These include the ATR 42, ATR 72, Airbus A318, Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, BAe 146/Avro RJ, Dornier 328, Embraer 135, Embraer 170, and Embraer 190. The Airbus A220-100 also started flying from here in late 2017. Private jets like the Cessna CitationJet are also common. Single-engine planes and helicopters are not allowed.

The airport is surrounded by the Royal Albert and King George V docks. This means there are no covered areas for plane maintenance.

Terminal Building

London City Airport is smaller than other London airports like Heathrow or Gatwick. It has one two-story terminal building with 18 gates.

On the ground floor, you will find check-in desks and other services. Stairs lead to security control on the upper level. After security, there is a waiting area with shops. From this area, corridors lead to the departure gates on the ground level. The airport does not have jet bridges, so passengers walk to their planes.

Airlines and Destinations

The following airlines fly regularly to and from London City Airport:

Airport Statistics

Passenger Numbers

The number of passengers at London City Airport grew quickly between 2003 and 2008. It doubled from about 1.5 million to over 3 million per year. Numbers dropped in 2009 and 2010 but recovered. In 2019, over 5.1 million passengers used the airport. In 2020, passenger numbers fell sharply to under 1 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Busiest Routes

Busiest routes to and from London City (2022)

Rank	Airport	Total passengers	Change 2020/2021
1	Amsterdam	393,748	381.6%
2	Edinburgh	304,035	234.3%
3	Zurich	293,822	495.8%
4	Frankfurt	226,711	471.9%
5	Dublin	206,945	287.2%
6	Luxembourg	181,670	669.9%
7	Glasgow	176,763	204.1%
8	Berlin	136,281	428.8%
9	Belfast–City	121,502	61.4%
10	Düsseldorf	118,997	431.6%

Getting to the Airport

Docklands Light Railway

London City Airport DLR station in 2006.

London City Airport has its own train station, London City Airport DLR station. This station is part of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The DLR connects the airport to Canary Wharf and the City of London. You can also connect to other train lines like the London Underground and Elizabeth line.

Road Access

The airport is connected to major roads like the A1020 road and A112. These roads provide quick links to nearby areas and connect to larger motorways. The airport has both short-term and long-term car parks close to the terminal. There is also a taxi stand right outside the terminal.

Local Buses

Local London Buses services also stop at the airport. These include routes 473 and 474, which connect to various parts of East London.

Riverboat Services

Thames Clippers riverboat services stop at a new pier at Royal Wharf, which is nearby. This allows people to travel to Central London by boat. You can use an Oyster card or a contactless smart card for these trips.

Airport Incidents

• On February 13, 2009, a BA CityFlyer plane from Amsterdam had its front landing gear collapse while landing. None of the 67 passengers or five crew members were seriously hurt. Three passengers had minor injuries. The plane was too damaged to be repaired.
• On October 21, 2016, 27 people were injured at London City Airport. A substance, later identified as tear gas, was released. Many flights were canceled, causing problems for thousands of travelers. Police later arrested a suspect. Security was increased at the airport after this event.

Images for kids

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  The route of the Elizabeth line passes very close to the airport but no station serves it (2018 diagram).