Cornwall 'close' to securing year round flights to London for next four years
Cornwall Airport Newquay says it is anticipated that Cornwall Council will award a new contract in November
Last updated 23rd Oct 2021
Cornwall Airport Newquay says we are close to securing new flights to London for the next four years, all year round.
Bosses say it is anticipated that Cornwall Council will award a new contract at some point next month.
Flybe used to operate year-round flights between the Duchy and the capital under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), until the airline ceased operations in 2020 and was subsequently sold.
Now the council is in the final stages of a tender process to award another PSO contract to a new airline.
That looks set to happen at the start of November, with a new service to be launched shortly afterwards.
Cornwall Airport Newquay issued a statement on the current situation, following the end of seasonal flights.
It said: "With the British Airways and easyJet routes to London having finished their summer seasonal schedules for S21 we are, understandably, receiving a large number of enquiries regarding the reinstatement of a year-round Newquay-London service.
"In the past the year-round service to London from Newquay was operated by Flybe under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) agreement. The purpose of securing the service in this way is to secure the slots at the London airport and to ensure that the service provision operates regularly throughout the year, in recognition of the importance of this connection for Cornwall.
"Cornwall Council are currently in the final stages of a tender process to award a contract to a new airline under a PSO agreement. It is currently anticipated that this award will be made by early November and a new service launched shortly afterwards.
"This award will secure a year-round multi-day service to London for the next four years.
"We understand that many passengers and businesses depend upon this route and we would like to assure them that we, along with Cornwall Council and the DfT, are doing our upmost to ensure that a service is in place as soon as is possible.
"Thank you for your patience. We will announce further details as soon as we have them".