Private jets at London City Airport
London City is the closest airport to the City of London and Canary Wharf, with its own Private Jet Centre beside a single 1,500-metre runway. Only aircraft and crews approved for its steep 5.5-degree approach can use it, and it is closed overnight and from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday lunchtime.
- Longest runway
- 1,508 m
- Codes
- LCY · EGLC
- Business aviation handling
- London City Airport Private Jet Centre
One of six airports in our London guide.
Business aviation handling
The Private Jet Centre is a purpose-built building away from the main terminal, with a VIP lounge, meeting rooms, a shower room and two crew lounges. Its apron is landside and the car park is directly outside arrivals, so cars can drop off and collect next to the building. Staff can take passengers to the aircraft by car in bad weather.
London City Airport Private Jet Centre
The airport's own FBO (listed in the AIP as London City Airport Jet Centre) and the handler for corporate and general aviation. A nominated handling agent is mandatory for all visiting aircraft. It arranges slots, parking, fuel, catering, crew transport and MET/NOTAM briefings.
Worth knowing before you fly
- Check the aircraft first. Only types approved for the steep approach can land, and each operator and crew must be approved in advance. The airport's list (updated 28 September 2026) includes large jets such as the Global 5000 to 8000, Falcon 6X, 7X and 8X, and Gulfstream G650ER. Approval is given per operator and crew, so an approved type alone is not enough.
- The airport is closed from 12:30 Saturday to 12:30 Sunday and overnight from 22:00 to 06:30 on weekdays. Weekend and late-evening schedules need planning around this, and a delay can push a departure past closing time.
- Customs and immigration need notice by 14:00 local on the day before an international arrival, so very short-notice inbound flights from abroad need checking.
- No single-pilot flights are allowed, and take-off run is 1,199 m, so the operator must confirm the aircraft can carry the planned passengers and fuel from this runway.
Operating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | Aerodrome hours in the UK AIP are Mon-Fri 06:30-22:00, Sat 06:30-12:30, Sun 12:30-22:00 and public holidays 09:00-22:00 local. These are the maximum hours for scheduling. Delayed aircraft may be allowed to operate up to 30 minutes after closing by prior arrangement, and extensions can be requested from the Airport Director. Air traffic control, fuel, handling, security and de-icing follow aerodrome hours. The Private Jet Centre's own site lists Mon-Fri 05:30-22:00, Sat 05:30-12:30 and Sun 11:30-22:00 (time zone not stated). |
|---|---|
| Prior permission | Use of the aerodrome is subject to the prior permission of the Airport Director, and operators must show they can comply with the local noise restrictions. Each aircraft and its crew must first be approved through the Private Jet Centre's aircraft approval process. The airport aims to give approval within 48 hours once all documents are submitted. |
| Customs and immigration | The UK AIP lists customs and immigration Mon-Fri 06:30-22:30, Sat 06:30-13:30, Sun and public holidays 09:00-23:00 local, with prior notice required by 14:00 local on the previous day. The AIP notes there is no static customs presence (Border Force is contacted through Waterloo International Terminal). The Private Jet Centre says UK Border Force and Customs operate on site for all international arrivals. |
| Slots | All flights need a slot allocated by Airport Coordination Ltd (ACL). Ad hoc requests go to ACL Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00 local, and outside those times to Aerodrome Operations during operating hours. The Private Jet Centre handles slot booking for arrival and departure. |
| Noise and night restrictions | There are no flights outside the published hours: the airport is closed overnight (22:00-06:30 local on weekdays) and from 12:30 Saturday to 12:30 Sunday local. Auxiliary power units must be shut down as soon as practicable after arrival and not restarted until 10 minutes before departure, except when the outside temperature is below +5C or above +20C. They may not be used outside operating hours unless the hours have been extended. Pilots are asked to keep reverse thrust to a minimum. |
| Aircraft parking | The AIP lists no hangar space for visiting aircraft. The Private Jet Centre offers secure aircraft parking, but no limits on stands or length of stay are published. |
| De-icing | Available through the handling agent during aerodrome hours (UK AIP). |
| Other restrictions | Aircraft must have flight manual data and procedures for approaches of 5.5 degrees or steeper, approved by the state of registry. The captain must hold steep-approach training specific to London City, renewed every 12 months, and the co-pilot must be type-rated. Single-engine aircraft, single-pilot operations, helicopters (without prior authorisation) and recreational flying are not permitted, and London City cannot be nominated as a diversion airport. Take-off run available is 1,199 m on both runways. Operations are restricted when the runway is wet with standing water over 3 mm or contaminated by ice, slush or snow, unless the flight manual covers it. The airport is not suitable for operations below Category I minima. Passengers on charter flights in aircraft over 10 tonnes are security screened on departure; private flights and aircraft under 10 tonnes are exempt. |
Runways
| 09/27 | 1,508 m, asphalt, grooved |
|---|
By road
| City of London | 5 miles (airport figure) |
|---|
Flying times
| To | Distance | Light or midsize jet |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 140 nm | About 40 min |
| Paris | 178 nm | About 45 min |
| Geneva | 396 nm | About 1h 15m |
| Nice | 553 nm | About 1h 35m |
| Ibiza | 760 nm | About 2h 05m |
| Marrakech | 1,247 nm | About 3h 10m |
| Mykonos | 1,362 nm | About 3h 25m |
| Dubai | 2,950 nm | Long-range jet |
| New York | 3,011 nm | Long-range jet |
Nearby airports
More airport guides nearby: London Luton Airport, Manchester Airport, Hawarden Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Brussels Airport, Paris Le Bourget Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at London City Airport?
Yes. The Private Jet Centre is a purpose-built building away from the main terminal, with a VIP lounge, meeting rooms, a shower room and two crew lounges. Its apron is landside and the car park is directly outside arrivals, so cars can drop off and collect next to the building. Staff can take passengers to the aircraft by car in bad weather.
What are London City Airport's opening hours for private flights?
Aerodrome hours in the UK AIP are Mon-Fri 06:30-22:00, Sat 06:30-12:30, Sun 12:30-22:00 and public holidays 09:00-22:00 local. These are the maximum hours for scheduling. Delayed aircraft may be allowed to operate up to 30 minutes after closing by prior arrangement, and extensions can be requested from the Airport Director. Air traffic control, fuel, handling, security and de-icing follow aerodrome hours. The Private Jet Centre's own site lists Mon-Fri 05:30-22:00, Sat 05:30-12:30 and Sun 11:30-22:00 (time zone not stated).
Can I clear customs at London City Airport on a private flight?
The UK AIP lists customs and immigration Mon-Fri 06:30-22:30, Sat 06:30-13:30, Sun and public holidays 09:00-23:00 local, with prior notice required by 14:00 local on the previous day. The AIP notes there is no static customs presence (Border Force is contacted through Waterloo International Terminal). The Private Jet Centre says UK Border Force and Customs operate on site for all international arrivals.
Checked 20 October 2026 from the UK AIP and published airport, government and handler information (aurora.nats.co.uk, privatejetcentre.londoncityairport.com, images.ctfassets.net, londoncityairport.com, assets.ctfassets.net). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
