Although Heathrow and Gatwick get the star billing as London’s major airports there is a smaller, more conveniently located airport in the heart of the city that serves 30 destinations throughout the UK and Europe, and puts its passengers firmly in the centre of London on arrival. .
Situated only three miles from Canary Wharf and a short taxi ride to the financial heart of the city, London City Airport has been operating since 1987. It is a firm favourite of the capital’s business travellers and that is understandable given its proximity to the centre of London and the financial district in particular. Indeed, when landing or taking off from the City Airport, passengers get fantastic views of not only the financial heart of the city but the impressive O2 Arena, the River Thames and the heart of historic London itself.
Although the airport is incapable of handling the size of commercial aircraft that land at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, the London City Airport still generates a significant amount of traffic. Currently handling between a quarter of a million and 300,000 passengers each month, the City Airport is the largest private employer in the Newham Borough District of London.
Indeed, so pivotal is the airport to the financial heart of the UK that there are plans to expand it and lengthen the runway – within the constraints of the dock in which it is located – and for it to be a major arrival point for flights to London by 2030. Due to a combination of the relatively small runway measuring a total of only 1,508 metres and a relatively high glide scope of 5.5 per cent the City Airport is currently used primarily by STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft such as the BAe146 Whisper Jet and the Embraer ERJ 135; both regularly used on major UK and European routes.
Given its limitations London City Airport will never surpass the passenger traffic handled by Heathrow and Gatwick, but for short European flights and business class transatlantic flights, it offers its passengers a convenient arrival point in the heart of London. Of course, with London being the busy metropolis that it is, you will never be short of things to see and do when you arrive in the popular city. For that reason alone, the success of London City Airport looks set to continue.
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