London City Airport, recently named the Best Airport in the UK at the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, has announced plans to open its first luxury pre-departure lounge. The lounge, developed in partnership with Swissport International’s Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality, is scheduled to open in early 2027.
Luxury Lounge Features and Design
The new lounge will feature a modern luxury design aesthetic, with a 5-star hotel-like lobby within the departures area. Passengers will enjoy a seamless transition from security to a space designed for total relaxation. The interior will offer views of the airport's unique runway and include a centrepiece cocktail bar, a barista station serving locally roasted coffee, and an ever-evolving artisanal food and drinks menu inspired by adventure and the city of London.
For business travellers, the lounge will provide a dedicated workspace with ample seating and private booths for calls. The lounge will be accessible to all passengers regardless of airline, with booking options online or via walk-in purchase. An annual membership will also be introduced in the future. The fee for using the lounge has not yet been disclosed.
Growth Plans and Passenger Targets
The airport, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2027, stated that the lounge is part of its ambitious growth plans to reach nine million passengers annually. Construction is already underway, following a major upgrade to the main departure lounge area completed in 2024.
Andy Cliffe, Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport, said: “Our partnership with Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality has unlocked an exciting opportunity to bring this space to life at a time when we are growing and innovating across our business. The introduction of this exclusive experience is answering a clear demand from passengers and will elevate our unrivalled customer offer and reputation as London’s most loved airport. We’re delighted to be partnering with Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality on this project, who have a proven track record of designing and operating luxury lounges in airports around the world.”
Karen Cox, CEO United Kingdom & Ireland, Swissport International, added: “The pre-flight experience market is in high growth driven by the new demands of the discerning traveller. Aspire is leading the way, constantly innovating and improving its guest experience to reflect this. We are incredibly excited about this project and our leading hospitality credentials in this space make Swissport and Aspire the ideal brand to partner with. London City has an exciting growth trajectory, a talented team and we can’t wait to offer departing passengers and future guests a new pre-flight experience.”
