Summary London-Vilnius route is dominated by low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and RyanAir, with one legacy airline, LOT Polish Airlines. Direct flights from London City Airport (LCY) to Vilnius Airport (VNO) are convenient for business travelers. LOT Polish Airlines provides a comfortable flight experience with complimentary snacks that are good value for money.
London and Vilnius are well-connected cities, with many weekly flights from Vilnius Airport (VNO) to London Stansted (STN), London Luton (LTN), and London City Airport (LCY). Presently, three airlines — Wizz Air, Ryanair, and LOT Polish Airlines — offer direct scheduled flights from VNO to London airports. These routes are mainly dominated by low-cost carriers, with just one legacy airline offering direct service between the two cities.
Wizz Air Ryanair LOT Polish Airlines Route LTN to VNO LTN to VNO STN to VNO LCY to VNO Aircraft Airbus A320 or Airbus A321 Boeing 737-800 Embraer E190 Last week, I took a direct flight from London City Airport (LCY), the city’s business traveler hub, to Vilnius Airport (VNO), Lithuania. With limited airline options between the two destinations, the direct LOT service from London’s most central airport felt like a treat. Airport experience London City Airport (LCY) is the most centrally located airport in London, situated in the Royal Docks, about 6 miles east of the City of London.
The airport, known to be popular among business travelers, is relatively small and currently serves legacy carriers such as British Airways, KLM, ITA Airways, SWISS, Lufthansa, LOT, and Aer Lingus. Getting to the airport from the city center is quick and easy. It took me just 25 minutes to reach the airport from Bank tube station.
I didn’t have checked luggage and carried only a single backpack, so going through security was easy, especially with London airports now using new CT scanners that don’t require passengers to remove electronic devices and liquids from their bags. I arrived two hours before my flight, which gave me plenty of time not only to get through security but also to grab a cup of coffee and open my laptop to do some work. The airport is very well equipped to accommodate remote workers, with plenty of seats, tables, and power plugs.
The airport screen indicated that the boarding gate for flight LO 274 from LCY to VNO would be displayed 30 minutes before the planned departure. The gate number appeared on the screen at exactly 18:10. I then walked to gate 5 to meet my ride, LOT’s Embraer E190, which was taxiing to the gate.
Boarding began at 18:25 at gate 5, which did not have a jet bridge. Instead, all gates at LCY have a stairwell leading directly outside to where the aircraft is parked. The boarding process was smooth.
The ground handling staff first invited business class passengers to board, followed by economy class passengers. Although the boarding went smoothly, the flight, which took two hours and 15 minutes, was delayed by half an hour for unknown reasons. Embraer and LOT Polish Airlines are taking their relationship forward with the introduction of the E195-E2 aircraft into the airline's fleet.
Inside the plane My ride to Vilnius International Airport (VNO) was a LOT Polish Airlines 5.6-year-old Embraer E190, registered as SP-LMB. The regional jet accommodates a total of 106 passengers.
As is standard in European aviation, the business class is sized dynamically, and the curtain moves forward/aft in accordance with demand. On this flight, four rows were dedicated to business class. As I walked in, I noticed the aircraft's 2-2 cabin layout, featuring relatively spacious seats in LOT Polish Airlines' signature dark blue colors.
The seats did not have an in-flight entertainment system, which is standard for European short-haul services. Judging by the boarding and check-in process, the flight appeared to be almost fully booked. My seat for the flight was 10C, an aisle seat with a relatively spacious legroom but, unfortunately, no direct window view.
I didn’t get an amenity kit for this flight, which is also quite standard for a European short hop. Service and fare The service began immediately after the pilots reached cruising altitude and turned off the seatbelt sign. The cabin crew first distributed sanitizing wipes, and shortly after, they started serving complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Complementary snacks included a pastry with blackberry filling, coffee, Dilmah tea, still water, and carbonated water. The passenger sitting to my right asked if the crew had any gluten-free options and received gluten-free cookies instead of the pastry. The cabin crew was friendly and helpful.
While the captain was making an announcement about our altitude of 37,000 feet, the crew came around with a tray of alcoholic beverages, which were not complimentary. Afterward, they also offered perfumes and beauty products for purchase. The one-way economy ticket cost me €200 ($220), which was reasonable considering I purchased it just six days before departure, during the peak summer travel season when the Lithuanian diaspora living in the UK is typically returning home for a holiday.
LOT is the sole carrier offering direct service from LCY to VNO and has no other competitor on the route. Landing and final thoughts LOT’s Embraer E190 regional jet landed smoothly at Vilnius Airport just before midnight. The plane was parked at a remote stand, and passengers were transported by two buses to the terminal.
All in all, this short LOT service between London City and Vilnius on the E190 was exceptionally smooth and enjoyable. The flight was so comfortable that I wished it could have lasted longer. LOT’s economy class offers good value for money if you prioritize the convenience of traveling from London’s most central and quiet airport.
The airline is upgrading its Dreamliner fleet..
