After a strong start to the ski season in the Alps, skiers will be pleased to know that London City Airport (LCY) is resuming ski routes and increasing frequencies to popular European cities this winter. This follows London’s most central airport reporting security wait times reducing by half, since completing the rollout of its new CT security scanners earlier this year.
Starting on the 16th of December, British Airways (BA) CityFlyer will fly direct to Chambéry in the French Alps, which is under 90 minutes away from popular ski resorts including the Three Valleys (Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens); Megève; Portes du Soleil; Chamonix and La Clusaz. BA CityFlyer will also resume a five-weekly service to Geneva – alongside Swiss’ twice daily service – and one weekly service to Salzburg, putting passengers within touching distance of the Swiss and Austrian Alps respectively.
In addition, ITA Airways is now operating three daily flights to Milan Linate Airport, which is only around two hours from top ski resorts in the Italian Alps, like Courmayeur and Cervinia. The route is set to increase to four daily flights in January 2024.
Holidaymakers looking for a city break can take advantage of BA CityFlyer’s increased frequencies to Berlin and Prague, with four daily flights to each European capital. Antwerp has also risen to six daily flights with Luxair.
For those seeking a winter escape, BA CityFlyer is offering two weekly flights to San Sebastian – the culinary capital of Europe – which is the only direct route from the UK to the Basque Country airport. Barcelona is now also a year-round destination, with up to four weekly flights this winter.
Anne Doyere, Aviation Director, London City Airport, said: “We are thrilled to be offering our passengers the quickest journey from central London to the Alps and many other popular European cities this winter.
“Our proposition of speed, convenience and reliability has grown even stronger this year and we look forward to building upon these commitments in 2024, including through the completion of our upgraded departures lounge.”
This winter, LCY will connect to 28 destinations across Europe and the UK, up two destinations on this time last year.
Earlier this year, LCY took steps to further improve its passenger experience and security measures, becoming the first major UK airport to introduce next generation CT security scanners, which enable travellers to pass through security without removing laptops and liquids from their hand luggage. Since the technology was introduced, average security times have reduced by 50%.
The CAA’s latest data showed that for 2022 and the first half this year London City has been ranked as the most punctual airport in the London. In addition, throughout the course of this year, LCY had the best Net Promoter Score of any London airport (based on pax feedback).
In 2023, LCY was named London’s Best Airport by Which? magazine and cited as the most efficient airport in the UK by Time Out.
