The UK Government has confirmed that it will provide up to £4.3 million to fund direct flights between London and Newquay, and London and Dundee, in a major boost for regional links across the country.
Cornwall Council will receive up to £1.8 million over two years to run flights from London to Newquay, in a reinstated Public Service Obligation (PSO) agreement that will create hundreds of jobs and keep people connected as we Build Back Better from the pandemic.
The Government has also confirmed that it will provide up to £2.5 million to fund direct flights for a further two years between Dundee and London until 2023. This funding will keep an important route running, supporting regional links across the country.
The airline Loganair will continue to run the flights to Dundee, operating from Dundee Airport to London City Airport. Flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Gatwick will start on 9 December 2021 and will be operated by Eastern Airways.
Eastern Airways’ new service from Cornwall Airport Newquay to London Gatwick will operate daily from December 15, before increasing to double daily year-round from mid-January.
Flights will operate initially daily to help quickly restore connections before Christmas and the New Year. This increases to fourteen flights each way a week, operating double-daily round-trips timed to allow a full day in London or Cornwall. The service will operate on low-emission regional turbo-prop aircraft also ensuring the route is delivered as a lower carbon environmentally sustainable option.
Adam Wheatley, Managing Director at Eastern Airways, said: “Helping solve vital regional connectivity is what Eastern Airways have done for twenty five years. Working in partnership with the UK Government and Cornwall Council connecting one of the most distant surface transport journeys in England to the capital via London Gatwick Airport, in a low emission aircraft fits our belief in how sustainable aviation can meet the need of the UK economy and extensive connectivity into the future.
“We welcome the approach taken by all stakeholders and partners to commence this service and will continue to further support the South-West region in wider accessibility, adding around 20 new direct jobs at Cornwall Newquay Airport”