Calls for more financial support to safeguard the future of Cornwall Airport Newquay
Business bosses are lobbying the government
Cornish business bosses are lobbying the government to help safeguard the future of Cornwall Airport Newquay.
They are calling for more financial help, saying it is a vital link for local businesses and the tourism industry.
The airport as been suffering from lockdown and travel restrictions, as well as from the collapse of FlyBe earlier this year.
Now as we head into a second national lockdown there are fresh fears over its future.
Last week, officials wrote to the Chancellor to ask for support, saying the airport has an economic impact of £62.7m every year, and is vital for connectivity across the UK and internationally.
This equates to 1,100 jobs directly and indirectly supported by the airport.
"Increasingly, people are seeing Cornwall as the place to staycation, not just for two weeks in the summer but for culinary breaks, sporting breaks, storm watching breaks, for cultural breaks, all throughout the year.
"The airport in Cornwall is absolutely essential if the government is serious about leveling up the regions, and Cornwall, as you know, has been the poorest part of England for the past 20 years which is why we've had EU funding. We will never pull ourselves out of that unless we've got the infrastructure provided by the government in which businesses can flourish.
"We need that flight at convenient times going from Newquay, particularly to London, but now increasingly to other parts of the UK, to open up Cornwall to take advantage of that the fact that brand Cornwall is cool, and people are coming here because it is a wonderful place to come to."
Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce