British Airways’ wholly owned subsidiary, BA CityFlyer, is marking its 10th anniversary with good cause to celebrate – the number of customers using its services has more than quadrupled and aircraft numbers have doubled in the past 10 years.

BA CityFlyer is firmly established at London City Airport, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, as the biggest operator in terms of routes, customers and aircraft movements.

Adam Carson, BA CityFlyer’s Managing Director said: “The 10-year anniversary is a significant milestone for us. Initially a business-based airline we listened to what our customers told us and moved into leisure flying as well, reaching a whole new market but at the same time expanding our core business network.

“The key to our success is our schedule, offering our customers well-timed and well-priced flights and plenty of choice to destinations they want to fly to.  London City and Edinburgh airports have both been key to our operation, with aircraft and crews based there, but adding another London airport, Stansted, to our network was a major expansion ahead of new regional flying from Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol from May this year.”

British Airways actually began flying from the Docklands airport in 2003 as BA CitiExpress, the company formed when four regional airlines combined.

BA CityFlyer was launched on March 5, 2007 with 144 flights a week, increasing to 250 flights to six UK and European destinations with a month. This summer it will fly from London City and regional airports to a record 54 destinations in the UK and Europe.

The airline is expanding its regional operation to fly from Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol airports as well as increasing schedules at Stansted, Edinburgh and Dublin.