Abu Dhabi → London-City

Chartering a private jet from Abu Dhabi directly to London City Airport (LCY) is an operationally specialised booking, typically costing between approximately $82,000 and $140,000 one-way. The routing typically involves a large-cabin jet to a staging London airport (Heathrow, Gatwick, or Farnborough), with a repositioning leg to LCY in a certified smaller aircraft, or a direct service in a midsize or super-midsize jet certified for LCY's steep approach. Aircraft certified for LCY include select midsize and super-midsize jets; no large-cabin widebody jets can operate at LCY. Our operations team advises the precise routing and aircraft combination for each LCY booking.

London City Airport (LCY / EGLC) has the following key operational parameters:

1. Runway length: 1,508 m (the original 1,080 m extended in 1992), requiring all operating aircraft to have certified short-field performance.
2. Approach angle: 5.5 degrees (standard ILS approaches are 3 degrees); all aircraft and crew must be specifically certified for this steep approach.
3. Aircraft types certified include: select midsize jets, super-midsize jets (Embraer Legacy 500, Dassault Falcon 7X with steep-approach certification), and some business turboprops.
4. Large-cabin jets such as the Gulfstream G450, Global 5000, and comparable aircraft cannot operate at LCY; they can be staged at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Farnborough.
5. The airport is closed from midday Saturday to midday Sunday.
6. Slot restrictions apply; advance booking is essential.

For most long-range Gulf to London routings, our operations team recommends either Heathrow, Gatwick, Biggin Hill, or Farnborough as the arrival airport, with a road transfer to central London.

Aircraft certified for LCY's steep approach and short runway include a select group:

1. Embraer Legacy 450 / 500 (Super-Midsize) - Steep-approach certified; excellent LCY performers.
2. Dassault Falcon 7X (Large-Cabin) - Steep-approach certification available; widest cabin that can operate at LCY.
3. Cessna Citation CJ series (Light Jets) - LCY-compatible for shorter-range segments.
4. Select midsize jets with appropriate steep-approach certification.

For most Abu Dhabi to London City routings, a two-leg approach is recommended: large-cabin jet to Heathrow or Farnborough, then a certified jet repositioned to LCY, or direct transfer from the arrival airport to the client's City/Canary Wharf destination by road.

The total journey time from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to a London City arrival depends on routing. A direct LCY-certified jet from Abu Dhabi (with stop) would be approximately 9 to 11 hours total block time. Via the recommended staging approach (large-cabin jet to Heathrow plus road transfer), the total journey is approximately 8 to 9 hours. The key advantage is that from LCY, the City of London is 15 to 20 minutes and Canary Wharf is 10 to 15 minutes, making the airport the fastest London option for financial district arrivals despite the routing complexity.

Yes. London City Airport is a slot-controlled airport; advance slot reservations are mandatory for all movements. The airport's Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning closure must be factored into scheduling. All LCY private jet bookings require advance coordination with the airport authority and FBO. Our operations team handles all slot requests, crew certifications, and ground coordination for every LCY booking as standard.

We coordinate premium chauffeured transfers directly from LCY's compact terminal, where aircraft are accessible without the queues of larger airports. The City of London and Bank is 15 minutes; Canary Wharf and the HSBC/Barclays towers 10 minutes; Mayfair and Mayfair hotels 25 minutes; and the West End 30 minutes.

Aircraft operating at LCY have more limited hold capacity than large-cabin jets. A midsize or super-midsize jet accommodates 4 to 10 bags depending on the aircraft type. For clients with substantial luggage, we recommend staging at Heathrow or Gatwick with the baggage transferred to your London destination by road while you travel in the repositioned LCY aircraft.

Yes, for pets certified to enter the UK, travel on the private jet leg is possible. UK pet entry requires microchipping, rabies vaccination, titre test, tapeworm treatment, and advance APHA documentation, with a lead time of at least 4 months. Our ground team provides a full briefing.