Where Can I Fly To From London City Airport

So, you’ve found yourself at London City Airport—the tiny, impossibly chic sibling to Heathrow’s massive, sweaty backpacker. It’s the airport that looks like a fancy shopping center that also happens to have planes. The runway is so short, pilots have to pray to the gods of headwinds and perform a vertical takeoff that would make a helicopter blush.

But where can you actually fly to from this vertical miracle? Forget long-haul slogs—this is the airport for quick, civilized hops to places where you can be eating a croissant in under an hour. Let’s break down the surprisingly glamorous web of destinations, shall we?

Europe’s Finest (The “Oh, I’m Fancy” List)

First up: Amsterdam Schiphol. Yes, the Dutch capital is basically a 45-minute hop from Canary Wharf. You can leave your office, get on a plane, and be staring at a canal and a stroopwafel before your colleagues have finished their second coffee. The best part? The plane lands so fast you’ll still have your seatbelt on when they’re announcing the city’s red-light district rules.

Then there’s Zurich, where everything is so clean and efficient it feels like a sci-fi movie. But don’t worry—the Swiss have made flying there comically easy. The flight is about 90 minutes, which is just enough time to order a tiny bottle of bubbly and pretend you’re a billionaire in a hurry. One surprising fact: London City pilots are specially trained for the steep approach, so when you land in Zurich, you get an insane view of the Alps from what feels like tree-top level.

And don’t forget Edinburgh or Dublin. These are the “I need a pint and an accent change” destinations. You can fly to Scotland’s capital for a castle visit and a deep-fried Mars bar, then be back in London in time to regret it. The Dublin flight is perfect for a day trip to kiss the Blarney Stone—though we recommend not kissing the stone after a few Irish coffees.

The Business & Baffling (Who Knew That Existed?)

Now for the weird flex: Reykjavik, Iceland. Yes, from that tiny London dock you can fly directly to the land of volcanoes, geysers, and elves that might unionize. It’s a bit longer—around three hours—but the plane still takes off like a rocket. The surprise? Because the airport is so close to the city center, you’ll be in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon soaking in silica mud before you’ve finished your jet lag headache.

But the absolute oddest destination from London City is Mykonos, Greece. Yes, the party island. How does a short-runway airport in London pull off a route to a Greek party island? It’s magicians, mate. Pure magicians. The flight is about three and a half hours, which means you can leave a grey, drizzly London morning and touch down where everyone is wearing sunglasses and holding a cocktail. The cabin crew will literally tell you to “prepare for humidity” as you land.

The Secret Weapon: The Dash 8 and The E190

Look, the planes at London City are a special breed. The workhorse is the Embraer E190—a jet that looks like a smart, nimble dragonfly. It’s quiet enough to not annoy the millionaires in the nearby skyscrapers. And then there’s the Bombardier Dash 8, a propeller plane that makes a sound like a lawnmower on espresso. Don’t be scared: these things are built like tanks and can land on a postage stamp.

The most surprising fact? London City Airport is the only airport in London that enforces a strict curfew. It closes at night and on Sundays—like a grumpy old librarian. So no red-eye flights. You get to fly like a civilised human, not a frantic vampire.

In total, you can hop to about 45 destinations from this urban miracle. That’s more than you’d think for a single strip of tarmac that’s shorter than some suburban driveways. Paris, Berlin, Luxembourg, Mallorca—they’re all a short, smooth, absurdly easy flight away.

So, where can you fly from London City Airport? Almost anywhere in Europe that matters—as long as it’s within a few hours and you don’t mind a takeoff that feels like a roller coaster. And if you’re still skeptical, remember: the airport’s slogan should be “We make you feel like a jet-setter, even if you’re just going to meet your mum for lunch in Edinburgh.” Now go book a flight—your espresso and your destination are waiting.