About flights from London (LCY)
London City Airport sits in a different category from Heathrow or Gatwick. It's smaller, calmer, and genuinely faster to get through — we're talking 20 minutes from cab to gate on a good day. Built on a former dock in East London, it serves business travelers and savvy leisure flyers who'd rather skip the chaos of the bigger terminals. If you haven't used it before, it's worth knowing upfront: this is a regional hub with 31 direct routes across Europe, not a global connector. But for what it does, it does really well.
Quick stats for LCY
- Direct destinations: 31
- Countries served: 15
- Continents reached: 1 of 6
- Average flight distance: 983 km
- Longest non-stop: Skiathos (JSI) — 2,272 km (~2h 50m)
- Shortest non-stop: Guernsey (GCI) — 297 km (~22 min)
- Reach score: 56/99
Why fly to London?
Spain dominates the route map here with six connections, which tells you a lot about who's flying and why. France follows with four routes, Italy with three. These are workhorses — short-haul European runs that suit weekend trips and remote workers doing visa runs across the continent. KLM connects you through Amsterdam if you need onward reach, which helps given LCY's reach score of 56 out of 99. It's not going to get you to Southeast Asia directly, but for European city breaks it's genuinely solid. The longest route out of here is actually Skiathos in Greece at 2,272 km — a Greek island escape you wouldn't necessarily expect from a mostly business-focused airport. That one surprised me.
Longest non-stop flights from LCY
The furthest destinations you can reach non-stop from London:
- Skiathos, Greece (JSI) — 2,272 km, approximately 2h 50m
- Thessaloniki, Greece (SKG) — 2,136 km, approximately 2h 40m
- Faro, Portugal (FAO) — 1,730 km, approximately 2h 10m
- Malaga, Spain (AGP) — 1,687 km, approximately 2h 7m
- Split, Croatia (SPU) — 1,503 km, approximately 1h 53m
Short-haul flights from LCY
Quick getaway options with the shortest flights from London:
- Guernsey, Guernsey (GCI) — 297 km, approximately 22 min
- Rotterdam, Netherlands (RTM) — 306 km, approximately 23 min
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) — 335 km, approximately 25 min
- Isle Of Man, Isle of Man (IOM) — 426 km, approximately 32 min
- Dublin, Ireland (DUB) — 477 km, approximately 36 min
Top countries by direct connections from LCY
City connects to 15 countries. Here are the most served:
- Spain — 6 destinations (Barcelona, Ibiza, Madrid, Malaga and 2 more)
- France — 4 destinations (Bergerac, Chambery, Nice, Toulon)
- United Kingdom — 3 destinations (Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow)
- Italy — 3 destinations (Florence, Milan, Olbia)
- Netherlands — 2 destinations (Amsterdam, Rotterdam)
- Germany — 2 destinations (Berlin, Frankfurt)
- Switzerland — 2 destinations (Geneva, Zurich)
- Greece — 2 destinations (Skiathos, Thessaloniki)
Where to fly from London
Flights to Spain
London has 6 direct routes to Spain:
- San Sebastian (EAS) — 916 km
- Barcelona (BCN) — 1,145 km
- Madrid (MAD) — 1,256 km
- Palma de Mallorca (PMI) — 1,346 km
- Ibiza (IBZ) — 1,408 km
- Malaga (AGP) — 1,687 km
Flights to France
London has 4 direct routes to France:
- Bergerac (EGC) — 741 km
- Chambery (CMF) — 780 km
- Nice (NCE) — 1,023 km
- Toulon (TLN) — 1,042 km
Flights to United Kingdom
London has 3 direct routes to United Kingdom:
- Belfast (BHD) — 525 km
- Edinburgh (EDI) — 543 km
- Glasgow (GLA) — 567 km
Tips for travelers at LCY
The DLR is your best friend at London City. The Elizabeth line connects nearby, but the DLR drops you right at the terminal, and from Bank station in the City of London it's about 22 minutes. Don't bother with a cab unless you're coming from East London — traffic around here can be brutal. Security is genuinely fast compared to Heathrow, but the airport gets quieter in summer when business travel dips, so check schedules because some routes run reduced frequencies. Pack light if you can — the gate areas are compact and overhead space fills up quickly on these shorter regional jets.
Airlines operating from LCY
The following airlines offer non-stop flights from City:
AZ, BA, EI, EN, GR, KL, LG, LM, LX
Frequently asked questions about flying to London
What's the easiest way to get from London City Airport to central London?
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is your quickest option at just 22 minutes to Bank station in the City, costing around £3.40, or you can take a taxi/Uber for about £25-35 depending on traffic.
When is the best time to fly to or from London City Airport?
Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September) offer the best weather and fewer crowds than peak summer, while you'll find cheaper fares in winter months if you don't mind the cold.
How many destinations can I fly to directly from London City Airport?
You can reach 31 direct destinations from City Airport, making it perfect for quick European getaways and business trips without the hassle of changing planes.
Do I need a visa to enter the UK from London City Airport?
UK visa requirements depend on your nationality—EU/EEA citizens and many Commonwealth countries can enter visa-free, but it's best to check the UK government's visa checker online before your trip.
What's a helpful tip for London City Airport?
It's a compact airport with only one terminal, so you can get through security in 10-15 minutes on most days—just arrive 90 minutes before your flight rather than the usual 2 hours.
Is London City Airport more expensive than other London airports?
Yes, City Airport typically has higher ticket prices and airport fees than Stansted or Luton, but the time saved getting to/from central London often makes up for it if you're staying in the City.
Plan your trip from London
Browse the complete list of 31 destinations below to find your next flight from City. Each route page includes distance, estimated flight time, and airline information to help you plan your trip.