Passengers at London City Airport can today (10 July) fly to Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Malaga and Florence as the UK government ends a 14-day quarantine on arrival policy covering more than 70 countries and British Overseas Territories.

KLM and Luxair will resume daily flights to Amsterdam and Luxembourg, respectively, from Monday 13 July, while BA CityFlyer recommences schedules to Nice, Mahón, Faro and Bergerac from Saturday 1 August.

In mid-July, City will welcome back routes to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin. A current service to the Isle of Man is operated by Loganair.

As reported last month, City’s commercial team is working closely with its retail and F&B tenants to reopen shops in line with passenger and route demand.

Retail, food and beverage concessions are reopening in line with passenger numbers, with Café Nero, WHSmith and Boots currently open in the single terminal.

APPETITE FOR TRAVEL

A survey carried out recently among more than 4,700 passengers underpins the desire to return to travel.

Of those surveyed, 79% said they would likely travel when told it is safe to proceed by the government, airports or airlines; 42% plan to travel for leisure in the coming three months; and 42% anticipate taking a flight for business in that period.

London City Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Richard Hill, said: “Today marks the start of the summer getaway season, and it’s clear that customers value the safe, careful and speedy environment that we’ve created.

“I’m also delighted to see BA CityFlyer back operating from their home airport. Our partnership has been tremendously successful in the past and I am confident that it will be again, especially with more leisure routes like Nice, Mahón, Faro and Bergerac to follow, as well more daily rotations to Malaga, Ibiza and Palma.

“Looking ahead, I anticipate we’ll see more of our airline partners re-starting services in the coming weeks, encouraged by the demand we’re experiencing in the London market.”

City Airport temporarily suspended flights between 25 March and 21 June in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Like other airports, City has introduced a number of health and safety measures such as rapid contact-free temperature check and crowd monitoring technology, enhanced cleaning regimes, one-way systems and Perspex screens. Passengers have also been asked to wear face coverings in the terminal.

Work on the £500 million/$644 million airport development programme has continued during the suspension of commercial operations.