What’s so good about LCY?It’s been a big month for LCY
London’s smallest airport has seen some positive changes in the last month. From better facilities, to new places to eat.
What’s so good about LCY?
Smaller airports tend to have better customer experiences – easier security processes and fewer crowds. That’s probably why London City was the highest ranking London airport in the recent Which? airport poll.
It’s the closest to central London, but – unlike other smaller airports – it’s not dominated by low-cost airlines. LCY has a mix of leisure and business destinations, served by BA, KLM, Swiss, Lufthansa and more.
The airport has just 18 gates for planes and zero jet bridges. Boarding means leaving the airport terminal and walking to your flight.
It’s also a fascinating airport when it comes to takeoff and landing. It has a short runway and only allows smaller planes to land: the Airbus A220 and A318, plus Embraers. Taking off in one direction means you’re heading towards the tall buildings of Canary Wharf, so gaining altitude quickly is critical.
I’ve stayed at the Sunborn floating yacht hotel which sits about half a mile from the edge of the runway, and on the path of aircraft. This gives you great view, but there are plenty of other places to get great footage of planes.
What’s changed at London City Airport?
Significant changes to the departure area have just been completed – this includes a new look, two new places to eat, a new shop and toilet facilities:
- Two new restaurants: Hithes, a brasserie/pub, and Juniper, a premium bar and restaurant.
- A new cafe/bar
- Expanded duty-free area
- New WHSmith
- Additional toilet facilities
This adds to the shops and eateries that were already in place, pre and post-security:
- Restaurants: Pret, Caffe Nero, Soul & Grain and Big Penny
- Shops: Aelia Duty-Free, Boots, InMotion
What’s coming up at London City Airport?
LCY has strict restrictions on the number of aircraft that can takeoff and land, the time it can open and the number of passengers that flow through the airport. The latter has just been raised from 6.5 million passengers a year to 9m, a significant increase and one that will be fully realised by 2031. The airport also wanted to run flights on a Saturday from 12:30pm to 6:30pm, but that was rejected by the Government.
You can read more on the LCY masterplan, including future changes to the terminal, on their website.
