BA CityFlyer

ICAO: CFE IATA: CJ Active as of Feb 2, 2026

Airline Statistics

64

Active Routes

1876

Flight Observations

30

Unique Destinations

29

Origin Airports

674

Avg Route Distance (mi)

1413

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

64

International Routes

About BA CityFlyer

BA CityFlyer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Airways, was established on March 25, 2007, to operate services from London City Airport (LCY). The airline's roots can be traced back further to CityFlyer Express, a British Airways franchisee that operated from London Gatwick Airport in the 1990s and was later absorbed into mainline British Airways operations in 2001. BA CityFlyer was formed following British Airways' sale of its regional business, BA Connect, but retaining the London City Airport operations.

The airline's main operational base is London City Airport (LCY), known for its unique steep approach and proximity to London's financial district, making it popular with business travelers. In addition to London City, BA CityFlyer also operates scheduled and charter flights from other UK regional airports, including Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Glasgow Airport (GLA), London Stansted Airport (STN), and Belfast City Airport (BHD), primarily for leisure destinations. The airline's head office is located in Didsbury, Manchester, England.

BA CityFlyer exclusively operates a fleet of 20 Embraer E190 aircraft. These narrow-body, twin-engine jets are configured with a 2-2 seating layout, meaning no middle seats, which contributes to a more spacious cabin feel for passengers. The route network is focused on domestic UK and European destinations, catering to both business and leisure travelers, with popular routes including Edinburgh, Dublin, Amsterdam, and various seasonal holiday destinations across Europe. As an affiliate of British Airways, BA CityFlyer is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance. Notable services include two cabin classes, Club Europe (Business Class) and Euro Traveller (Economy), with both offering a complimentary full bar service, including spirits, which differentiates it from many other short-haul European airlines.

Traveler Reviews

What Travelers Love:

  • Efficiency and convenience of London City Airport: Many travelers appreciate the swift and easy experience at London City Airport (LCY), noting quick security procedures and efficient disembarkation.
  • Comfortable 2-2 seating and generous legroom: The absence of middle seats on the Embraer aircraft, along with often praised legroom, particularly in certain rows and in Club Europe, is frequently highlighted as a significant positive, providing a more comfortable journey.
  • Complimentary bar service and attentive cabin crew: Passengers consistently commend the complimentary full bar service available even in Economy, including alcoholic beverages, which is a key differentiator. The cabin crew are often described as friendly, cheerful, and highly attentive.

Common Complaints:

  • Cabin cleanliness and dated interiors: Some reviews mention that while the aircraft are well-maintained, the cabin interiors can sometimes appear worn or not adequately clean.
  • Inconsistent food quality in Club Europe: While some travelers enjoy the food offerings in Club Europe, others have found the quality to be average or unappetizing.
  • Ground staff organization at other airports: Issues with disorganized boarding procedures and ground staff have been reported at airports other than London City.

Overall, travelers generally express a positive sentiment towards BA CityFlyer, often preferring it for short-haul European travel, especially from London City Airport. The airline is praised for its efficient operations, comfortable cabin environment, and the value-added complimentary onboard service. Despite some minor criticisms regarding cabin aesthetics and food consistency, the overall experience is often considered superior to many alternative carriers.

Safety Information

BA CityFlyer maintains a strong safety record, with no fatal accidents reported since its inception. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Airways, it benefits from the parent company's robust safety protocols and commitment to passenger safety, which has seen no fatal accidents on British Airways passenger flights since the 1970s. However, AeroInside lists several incidents involving BA CityFlyer aircraft, none of which resulted in serious injury or fatality. These include a near collision with a drone in 2015, a cracked windshield in 2017, bleed air and air conditioning issues in 2019, a burning odour in 2020, an engine shutdown in flight in January 2024, and a bird strike in May 2024.

The airline operates under a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence. As a European airline, BA CityFlyer adheres to the stringent safety standards and regulations set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). BA CityFlyer, like its parent company, is not included on the EU Air Safety List, which identifies carriers banned or restricted from operating within the European Union due to safety concerns.

BA CityFlyer's fleet consists solely of Embraer E190 aircraft, with a current count of 20 planes. The airline has a commitment to maintaining its fleet, as evidenced by a recent three-year contract signed with Exeter Aerospace for base maintenance activities on its Embraer E190s, effective from January 2025 until June 2027. While British Airways has a policy of keeping aircraft for their operational lives, rigorous maintenance and safety checks are continuously performed in accordance with international aviation regulations, ensuring airworthiness regardless of age.

Based on available data, BA CityFlyer demonstrates a positive overall safety assessment. The absence of fatal accidents, adherence to UK and European regulatory standards, and ongoing maintenance programs underpin its commitment to safe operations. No specific safety awards directly attributed to BA CityFlyer were found in the provided search results, though its association with British Airways, which has received safety ratings and awards, implies a shared high standard.

Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 2 months ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

204 flights
E190
EDI → LCY
Edinburgh Airport → London City
338 miles
115 flights
E190
LCY → EDI
London City Airport → Edinburgh
338 miles
109 flights
E190
LCY → DUB
London City Airport → Dublin Int'l
298 miles
105 flights
E190
LCY → AMS
London City Airport → Amsterdam Schiphol
208 miles
102 flights
E190
LCY → BER
London City Airport → Berlin-Brandenburg
577 miles
85 flights
E190
78 flights
E190
69 flights
E190
LCY → ZRH
London City Airport → Zurich (Kloten)
473 miles
69 flights
E190
LCY → GLA
London City Airport → Glasgow Int'l
353 miles
68 flights
E190

Top Destinations

LCY (EGLC)
London City
London
730 flights
26 routes
EDI (EGPH)
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
123 flights
5 routes
DUB (EIDW)
Dublin Int'l
Dublin
105 flights
1 route
AMS (EHAM)
Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
102 flights
1 route
BER (EDDB)
Berlin-Brandenburg
Berlin
85 flights
1 route
LIN (LIML)
Linate
Milan
78 flights
1 route
IBZ (LEIB)
Ibiza
Ibiza Island / Eivisa
69 flights
1 route
ZRH (LSZH)
Zurich (Kloten)
Zurich
69 flights
1 route
GLA (EGPF)
Glasgow Int'l
Glasgow
68 flights
1 route
RTM (EHRD)
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
68 flights
1 route

Top Origin Airports

LCY (EGLC)
London City Airport
London
1119 flights
27 routes
RTM (EHRD)
Rotterdam The Hague Airport
Rotterdam
204 flights
1 route
EDI (EGPH)
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh
115 flights
1 route
IBZ (LEIB)
Ibiza Airport
Ibiza (Eivissa)
66 flights
2 routes
BHD (EGAC)
George Best Belfast City Airport
Belfast
57 flights
1 route
FLR (LIRQ)
Florence Airport, Peretola
Firenze (FI)
52 flights
3 routes
DUB (EIDW)
Dublin Airport
Dublin
36 flights
1 route
ZRH (LSZH)
Zürich Airport
Zurich
33 flights
1 route
JSI (LGSK)
Skiathos Island National Airport
Skiathos
23 flights
1 route
GLA (EGPF)
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow
21 flights
1 route

Top Border Crossing Flights

LCY (EGLC)
London City Airport
London, GB
730 flights
26 routes
EDI (EGPH)
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh, GB
123 flights
5 routes
DUB (EIDW)
Dublin Airport
Dublin, IE
105 flights
1 route
AMS (EHAM)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam, NL
102 flights
1 route
BER (EDDB)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Berlin, DE
85 flights
1 route
LIN (LIML)
Milano Linate Airport
Milan, IT
78 flights
1 route
IBZ (LEIB)
Ibiza Airport
Ibiza Island / Eivisa, ES
69 flights
1 route
ZRH (LSZH)
Zürich Airport
Zurich, CH
69 flights
1 route

Longest Routes

LCY → JSI
London City Airport → Skiathos Island National
1413 mi
JSI → LCY
Skiathos Island National Airport → London City
1413 mi
LCY → SKG
London City Airport → Thessaloniki Int'l, Makedonia
1329 mi
SKG → LCY
Thessaloniki Macedonia International Airport → London City
1329 mi
OLB → EDI
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport → Edinburgh
1193 mi

Shortest Routes

RTM → LCY
Rotterdam The Hague Airport → London City
190 mi
LCY → RTM
London City Airport → Rotterdam
190 mi
AMS → LCY
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol → London City
208 mi
LCY → AMS
London City Airport → Amsterdam Schiphol
208 mi
LCY → DUB
London City Airport → Dublin Int'l
298 mi

All Routes

64 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
RTM → LCY London City
London
204 190 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
EDI → LCY London City
London
115 338 mi E190 Feb 2, 2026
LCY → EDI Edinburgh
Edinburgh
109 338 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → DUB Dublin Int'l
Dublin
105 298 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → AMS Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
102 208 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → BER Berlin-Brandenburg
Berlin
85 577 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → LIN Linate
Milan
78 595 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → IBZ Ibiza
Ibiza Island / Eivisa
69 876 mi E190 Jan 30, 2026
LCY → ZRH Zurich (Kloten)
Zurich
69 473 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → GLA Glasgow Int'l
Glasgow
68 353 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → RTM Rotterdam
Rotterdam
68 190 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
IBZ → LCY London City
London
63 876 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → FRA Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
61 385 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
BHD → LCY London City
London
57 327 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → FLR Amerigo Vespucci (Florence)
Florence (Firenze)
54 742 mi E190 Jan 30, 2026
LCY → PMI Palma de Mallorca (or Son Sant Joan)
Palma de Mallorca
41 837 mi E190 Jan 30, 2026
LCY → NCE Nice Cote d'Azur
Nice
40 637 mi E190 Nov 1, 2025
FLR → LCY London City
London
40 742 mi E190 Feb 1, 2026
LCY → AGP Malaga
Malaga
36 1050 mi E190 Jan 30, 2026
DUB → LCY London City
London
36 298 mi E190 Jan 30, 2026
ZRH → LCY London City
London
33 473 mi E190 Jan 31, 2026
LCY → BHD George Best Belfast City
Belfast
31 327 mi E190 Jan 28, 2026
JSI → LCY London City
London
23 1413 mi E190 Sep 15, 2025
GLA → LCY London City
London
21 353 mi E190 Jan 15, 2026
AMS → LCY London City
London
21 208 mi E190 Jan 29, 2026
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Feb 2, 2026 06:00
Coverage: Observed routes only