BA Cityflyer Brings Madrid Back to London City Airport

London City Airport (LCY/EGLC) has marked the return of flights to Madrid, with British Airways Cityflyer officially relaunching its service to the Spanish capital on Monday, 1 December. The route, now operating 11 times per week, reconnects London’s most centrally located airport with one of Europe’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities.

To celebrate the inaugural departure, passengers were treated to a Madrid-themed send-off. Traditional chotis music filled the gate area courtesy of a Spanish guitarist, while renowned chef José Pizarro and his team served complimentary delicacies, including Tortilla Pintxos and Tarta de Santiago.

Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, welcomed the route’s return, saying: “Madrid is a destination our passengers consistently tell us they love, so we’re delighted to have worked with our long-standing partner, British Airways Cityflyer, to bring the route back to London City. Restoring this connection further strengthens our global reach, offering travellers even more choice through key European hubs, all with competitive fares and the convenience we’re known for.”

British Airways Cityflyer’s Managing Director, Ian Romanis, added: “We’re delighted to launch this exciting addition to our network, offering customers more opportunities to experience everything Madrid is celebrated for, from its rich culture and history to its world-class cuisine. What makes this route launch particularly special is that the schedule has been designed to make it easy for customers to take advantage of seamless onward connections to Central and South America through our sister airline, Iberia.”

A Busy Winter for British Airways at London City

Alongside the Madrid relaunch, British Airways has resumed partial winter services to Innsbruck ahead of the festive season and reinstated popular ski routes to Geneva and Chambéry. Travellers can also access alpine destinations via connections to Milan and Zurich.

For those seeking warmer climates, year-round flights to San Sebastian and Ibiza continue to operate, while demand for winter breaks in Dublin and Rome remains strong.

London City Airport Continues to Shine

The airport has enjoyed a year of strong recognition, being named the UK’s Best Airport by Condé Nast Travellerreaders, as well as London’s Best Airport by both Which? and The Daily Telegraph. London City’s famously swift passenger experience remains a major draw, with travellers able to move from terminal to gate in as little as 10 minutes. Two-thirds of passengers now arrive by DLR, reinforcing its status as the quickest and most convenient airport in the capital.

Leisure travel accounts for around 60% of London City’s traffic, a figure expected to grow further. Earlier this year, the airport submitted an Airspace Change Proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority to allow operations of the Airbus A320neo. The change would expand the range of leisure destinations available and support future passenger growth without increasing flight movements.