London City accepts aircraft up to the Super Midsize category. Here is which ones, what the flight costs from Paris, Geneva, London or Nice, and what you should know before booking.
Runway length available: 1,508 m. The middle column gives the length generally needed for take-off at maximum weight, at sea level.
| Category | Runway required | At London City |
|---|---|---|
| Very Light JetCitation Mustang, Phenom 100 | 1,000 m | Lands here |
| TurbopropPilatus PC-12, King Air 350 | 800 m | Lands here |
| Light JetCitation CJ3, Phenom 300 | 1,100 m | Lands here |
| Midsize JetCitation XLS+, Learjet 60 | 1,400 m | Lands here |
| Super MidsizeChallenger 350, Longitude | 1,500 m | Lands here |
| Large JetChallenger 605, Legacy 600 | 1,750 m | Runway too short |
| Long RangeGlobal 6000, Gulfstream G650 | 1,900 m | Runway too short |
Bottom of the range for a one-way flight, on the most economical category able both to cover the distance and to land on this runway.
A standard approach is flown at 3 degrees. At London City the required descent path is 5.5 degrees — the steepest instrument approach in the United Kingdom. The aircraft descends almost twice as fast for the same ground speed.
Among those holding steep-approach certification: the Pilatus PC-24, the Citation CJ family, the Embraer Phenom 300, the Learjet 75, certain configurations of the Legacy 450 and 500, and the Falcon 7X. But a certified aircraft is not enough: the crew must be certified too. That is why an operator can own a Phenom 300 and still be unable to take you to London City.
Availability is markedly tighter than at Luton or Farnborough, and prices reflect it in busy periods. If your meeting is at Canary Wharf or in the City, you save three quarters of an hour on the ground. If you are heading west of London, Farnborough will be quicker and cheaper.
On paper, 5 categories can land at London City. In practice the choice comes down to three things: the number of passengers, the distance from your departure point, and above all what is actually available on the day of your flight.
The Very Light Jet category is the most economical of those that can use this runway. If your route exceeds its range, the category above becomes compulsory — at that point it is no longer a matter of comfort but of feasibility.
Give us your route and your date: we come back within the hour with three genuinely available aircraft options and a firm price.
Sources
Data verified on 31 July 2026. The runway lengths required are indicative: the real distance depends on payload, temperature, elevation, wind and runway condition. The feasibility of a flight is always confirmed with the operator before any commitment.