London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is a centrally located, highly specialised airport in London’s Royal Docks, in the London Borough of Newham, about 11 km (6 NM) east of the City of London and very close to Canary Wharf — two of London’s major financial centres. The airport is unique in that it requires a steep 5.5° glide path for its approach, far steeper than the usual 3°, so only aircraft and crews certified for this kind of operation are allowed to use it. In recent years, the Embraer E195‑E2 has been certified to land here, making it one of the largest aircraft now operating into LCY.
In 2024, the airport handled around 3.57 million passengers, up from 3.41 million in 2023, reflecting a continued recovery from the pandemic. It has also returned to profitability: in 2023, it reported a net profit of £4.2 million, its first annual profit since 2019.
London City operates with a single runway of 1,508 metres (4,948 ft), and its CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (P728) allows both passenger transport and flight training — but only under very specific conditions. Fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft must be specially certified (both the aircraft and the crew) to fly the steep 5.5° approach, and are subject to strict noise limits. Historically, operations were limited to aircraft such as the Airbus A318, but today the airport also sees A220s and the E‑Jet E2 family.
In 2024, planning permission was granted to increase the airport’s annual passenger cap from 6.5 million to 9 million by 2031, without expanding infrastructure. The plan includes continuing to restrict operations to “cleaner, quieter” next-generation aircraft.
Because of its steep approach, close-in location, and passenger profile, London City remains heavily used by business and financial travellers. With its limited footprint and very specific operational constraints, it retains a niche role among London’s airports — combining convenience with a demanding and highly controlled environment for aircraft operations.
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