London City Airport is built for business travel. It sits in the Royal Docks, a few miles east of the City and close to Canary Wharf, with a single terminal and short walks from the kerb to the gate. That speed comes with tighter timings than Heathrow or Gatwick, and a few rules that catch out people who are used to larger airports.
This guide covers check-in deadlines, how long the journey takes from different parts of London, the drop-off charge, and how pickups work when you land.
Check-in and boarding times are short, and strict
Because the airport is small, airlines run to tighter deadlines. British Airways, the largest airline at London City, closes check-in and bag drop 30 minutes before departure. You need to be through security at least 20 minutes before departure and at the gate 15 minutes before.
Other airlines set their own times, so check your booking. The point is the same: arriving 45 minutes before a flight is usually comfortable at London City, but arriving 25 minutes before can mean missing it, even though the terminal is only a short walk from the car.
How long the journey takes
Journey times depend heavily on where you start and the time of day. As a rough guide, outside the rush hour:
| Starting from | Typical journey time |
|---|---|
| Canary Wharf | 10 to 20 minutes |
| The City | 20 to 40 minutes |
| The West End | 40 to 60 minutes |
| North London | 40 to 70 minutes |
In the morning and evening peaks, the roads into the Docklands, including the A13 and the Limehouse Link tunnel, can add 20 minutes or more. For an early business flight, a 6am departure from central London is usually quick. A 5pm departure from the West End is not.
To work out when to leave, start from the airline’s check-in or bag drop deadline, add 15 minutes as a buffer, then add the journey time from the top of the range above.
The drop-off charge
Since 6 January 2026, London City Airport has charged vehicles for dropping off outside the terminal. When it was introduced, the charge was £8 for up to five minutes, with £1 for each extra minute up to a maximum of ten minutes. Check the airport’s website for the current rates before you travel.
If you are being dropped off by a pre-booked car, the charge is paid by the driver or operator. Ask whether it is included in the fare when you book, so there are no surprises at the end of the journey.
Pickups when you land
Arrivals at London City are quick. With a short walk from the aircraft and, for many flights, hand luggage only, passengers can be through the terminal within a few minutes of landing. That means a driver needs to be there on time, not still parking.
Give the operator your flight number when you book. The driver can then follow the flight and adjust the pickup if it lands early or late. With a meet and greet service, the driver waits in the arrivals area with a name board and walks you to the car. Keep your phone switched on after landing in case the driver needs to reach you.
Opening hours
London City is not a 24-hour airport. There are no flights overnight, and the airport has a weekend closure that runs from Saturday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime. First flights leave early in the morning, so book the car the day before rather than relying on finding one at 5am.
Car or DLR?
The airport has its own DLR station, and for a single traveller with light luggage going to or from Bank or Canary Wharf, the DLR is quick and cheap. A pre-booked car makes more sense when:
- you are travelling from somewhere without a direct DLR connection
- you have heavier luggage, equipment or samples
- you are on an early flight or a late arrival
- several colleagues are travelling together
- you want to work or take calls on the way
Booking for colleagues and visitors
Many London City journeys are booked by someone other than the traveller: a PA arranging a director’s trip, or a company collecting a client flying in for a meeting. In those cases, give the operator the traveller’s name for the name board, their mobile number, the flight number and the address they are going to. A business account keeps these journeys on one invoice, and an executive car is worth considering for visiting clients.
If a flight is delayed or cancelled, it helps to know in advance what happens to an airport taxi booking, so nobody is left waiting.
London City Airport transfers with Abetta
Abetta runs pre-booked transfers to and from London City Airport, with the drop-off charge included in the fare, flight tracking on every pickup and a meet and greet service in arrivals. Business accounts and executive cars are available for corporate travel. See our London City Airport transfers or call 020 8445 1111.
