London City Restores Madrid Route
London City Airport has marked the return of flights to Madrid after British Airways Cityflyer reinstated its service on 1 December. The route, now operating 11 times per week, reconnects the airport with one of Europe’s busiest capitals. The restart follows strong demand for links to key European hubs and adds another frequently used option for those travelling through London’s most centrally located airport.
To celebrate the inaugural departure, London City organised a small gate event inspired by Madrid. Passengers were greeted with live chotis music performed by a Spanish guitarist, while José Pizarro and his culinary team offered classic dishes including Tortilla Pintxos and Tarta de Santiago. The airport noted that Madrid has consistently been one of its most requested destinations, making the return of the service a welcome addition.
British Airways Cityflyer says the relaunch provides passengers with familiar access to the city’s cultural sites, food scene, and historical landmarks. More importantly, the timetable has been arranged to align with Iberia’s long-haul network in Madrid, creating convenient same-day links to Central and South America. This adds both business and leisure options through Madrid Barajas Airport without requiring separate arrangements.
The renewed connection also strengthens the wider winter schedule at London City.
Seasonal ski services:
- Innsbruck
- Geneva
- Chambéry
Year-round leisure routes:
- San Sebastián
- Ibiza
High-demand winter city routes:
- Milan
- Zurich
- Dublin
- Rome
These options broaden the mix of city breaks, winter sports trips, and warm-weather escapes available during the festive season.
“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."
London City Airport expects leisure travel to keep rising, already accounting for 60% of its traffic. The airport has submitted an Airspace Change Proposal to the UK Civil Aviation Authority to allow future operations of the Airbus A320neo, which would increase the range of destinations without adding more flight movements. If approved, this could expand holiday options even further while keeping the airport’s short, efficient journey times intact.