London City opened in 1987 as part of the Royal Docks redevelopment, purpose-built to serve business travellers close to central London.
Royal Docks project
London City Airport was conceived as part of the regeneration of the derelict Royal Docks in east London and opened in 1987.
Business-airport identity
Its location near Canary Wharf and the City made short-haul business travel the airport's defining niche, especially before high-speed rail and videoconferencing changed some business-trip patterns.
Modern role
The airport has broadened into leisure routes while retaining its central-location advantage and compact-terminal model.
Fun facts
- London City was the first completely new airport built in the UK after the Second World War.
- It was constructed in just 18 months and cost £34 million when it opened in 1987.
- In its first full year, 1988, it handled only about 133,000 passengers — tiny compared with the millions it would later serve.
See London City's 30th-anniversary history.