I think it is fair to say that LCY was envisaged as a business airport. In the 1980s, the runway was even shorter than it was today, and operating costs much higher. Running tiny Dash-7s into and out of a central London STOLport would certainly have been pitched with the business sector in mind.

Now, flying is much more common, and fares are proportionately lower, and we have a much larger middle class. It’s not surprising that there are some “premium leisure” destinations on the departure boards these days.