London City Adds a French Riviera Shortcut

London City Airport has launched a new seasonal British Airways service to Toulon in southern France, operated by BA Cityflyer. The route gives summer travellers another way to reach the Riviera, alongside the airport’s existing flights to Nice. Toulon–Hyères Airport is the closest commercial airport to St Tropez, cutting some of the onward travel needed to reach the coast.

The flights will operate twice a week until Tuesday 1 September, adding a direct link between London and Provence for the peak holiday period. Tickets start at £90 each way, including taxes, fees and hand baggage. London City Airport said the launch supports its plans to grow leisure routes, while BA Cityflyer said Toulon gives customers another way into the south of France.

To mark the launch, passengers travelling on Tuesday 26 May were welcomed at the gate with a Riviera-style beach club set-up, including deckchairs, parasols and live saxophone music. London City Airport and BA Cityflyer staff also offered chilled soft drinks, while a Whispering Angel rosé tasting bar added a Provence-themed touch to the departure gate.

The new route could make Toulon, Hyères and the Var coast more practical for short breaks, especially for passengers starting close to central London. St Tropez, Le Lavandou, Porquerolles and the beaches around Hyères become stronger alternatives to flying into Nice. It also gives travellers another way to plan coastal trips without relying only on the busiest Côte d’Azur gateways.

The service is seasonal, so timing still matters. Travellers looking at late spring or summer trips now have a direct London City option, but flights end on 1 September. Nice remains the obvious airport for the eastern Riviera, while Toulon is better placed for St Tropez, Hyères and smaller seaside towns along the western side of the coast.