Introduction
On November 5, 2024, British Airways, through its subsidiary BA Cityflyer, commemorated a significant milestone—25 years of operations at London-City Airport (LCY). This quarter-century of service highlights the enduring partnership between the airline and one of London’s premier travel hubs.
Historical Context
The relationship began on November 5, 1999, when British Airways’ then-franchise partner, British Regional Airlines, initiated a service from Sheffield-City Airport to London-City Airport. Although Sheffield-City Airport has since ceased operations, this marked the beginning of a prolific expansion of services by British Airways at LCY. Over the past 25 years, more than 27 million customers have flown with British Airways or its partner carriers from this location.
Evolution of Services
BA Cityflyer, established in 2007, took over operations from the former BA Connect, expanding services to over 50 destinations across Europe. Notable among these are enduring routes to Frankfurt and Geneva, with Edinburgh emerging as the most frequented destination, followed closely by Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. The operational base at LCY has grown to include a fleet of 20 Embraer ERJ-190s, underlining the importance of this airport in British Airways’ regional network.
Strategic Importance of London-City Airport
Located merely eight miles from Central London and in proximity to the Canary Wharf financial district, London-City Airport is pivotal for both business and leisure travel. In 2023, the airport managed 3.4 million passengers and is on track to approach its pre-pandemic volume of five million passengers by 2024. As the largest airline operating out of LCY, BA Cityflyer’s direct services extend to 26 short-haul destinations, including the farthest destination of Mykonos, Greece, covering a sector length of 1,570 miles (2,512km).
Operational Excellence and Customer Experience
According to BA Cityflyer’s CEO, Tom Stoddart, the airport’s accessibility and the rapid transit from check-in to gate—approximately 20 minutes—offer an unrivaled experience for travelers. This operational efficiency is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team over the years.
Celebratory Offers and Future Outlook
To mark this silver anniversary, BA Cityflyer has introduced a promotional sale, offering up to 25% off fares to various city break destinations. This offer is valid for bookings made before November 11, 2024, for travel until March 31, 2025. Currently, London-City Airport hosts flights to 33 European destinations operated by nine carriers, including SWISS, KLM, and Lufthansa, among others. In November 2024 alone, the airport is scheduled for 4,056 flights, with BA Cityflyer operating more than half of these flights. Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, expressed delight over the anniversary, emphasizing the airport’s role in providing an unmatched customer experience and its strategic significance to London’s transport infrastructure.