Accessibility for all passengers
At Cornwall Airport Newquay we offer assistance to passengers with reduced mobility or hidden disabilities to ensure smooth and easy travel through the Airport, including embarking and disembarking the aircraft.
Our commitment
We want all customers to feel confident and reassured their needs will be met by our assistance team here at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
We have an ongoing commitment to passengers requiring special assistance and our staff are trained in:
- Assisting Passengers with Restricted Mobility
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s Awareness
- Autism Awareness
- Hearing and Sight Loss Awareness
- Anxiety Awareness
- Moving and Handling
Request assistance
If you require special assistance for your journey through the Airport, this can be booked with us directly, with your airline or travel agent.
Contact services team
If you would like more information about the services we provide, please contact our passenger services team on 01637 860600 or email them using the link below.
Send feedback
We are always open to feedback and suggestions on how we can improve our customer’s experience and have created a survey for your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you.
Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility
- Free use of airport wheelchairs throughout terminal building and car parks.
- Ability to retain your own wheelchairs and other walking aids up until boarding.
- Designated waiting area in the departure lounge.
Assistance for passengers with hidden disabilities
- Cornwall Airport Newquay are part of the Sunflower Scheme.
- An induction loop system is fitted at the check-in desks, Airport information desk, boarding gates, immigration booths and
cafes. We also have portable loops should you require one in another part of the terminal, just ask one of our team. - Ear defenders for adults and children are available on request.
- When travelling with assistance dogs, please check with the airline you are travelling with. See here for more information from the Civil Aviation Authority on travelling with assistance dogs.
All passengers requiring assistance
- Call points to advise us of your arrival at the airport. These are situated at the payment machines in the East and West Car Parks.
- Provision of disabled parking bays in the car parks in close proximity to the terminal building.
- If you require your Blue Badge whilst you are away, please contact the information desk on arrival to obtain an accessible parking pass to display in your car.
- Meet and Greet facility to assist passengers through the Airport experience, with call buttons at car-park payment machines in the East and West car parks. You can also arrange assistance from the car parks by contacting the airport on arrival, you can reach us on 01637 860600.
- Specially designated toilets situated within the check-in hall, departure lounge and arrivals hall.
- Fast-track for wheelchair and special assistance passengers at check-in and security central search if assistance is provided by our onsite assistance team.
- AviRamp product for boarding and disembarking aircraft.
- We can offer the option of a private search at security to preserve your privacy.
- Information on travelling with assistance dogs can be found here. There is a designated airside dog relief area and Airport staff will support the passenger to clear up any waste.
Quality standards
Cornwall Airport Newquay has been rated Very Good by the Civil Aviation Authority for our passenger assistance service.
This is based on a number of different areas:
- Waiting times
- Annual data on quality standards
- Feedback surveys sent to passengers
Engagement with disability organisations through the Airport’s Accessibility Forum
Request assistance
Please ensure you have pre-registered for assistance with your airline 48 hours in advance.
When booking with us directly you are ensuring any assistance is pre booked at NQY only.
Gallery
Additional Information
Airport walking distances
Arriving from the West car park:
- 446m from the furthest point in West car park to check in. (7 mins)
- 145m from the help point near West car park to check in. (2 mins)
- 93m from the bus stop near West car park to check in. (1 min)
- 186m from the West car park disabled parking bays to check in. (3 mins)
Arriving from the East car park:
297m from the furthest point in West car park to check in. (4 mins) - 160m from the West car park disabled parking bays to check in. (2 mins)
- 134m from assistance point to check in desk. (2 mins)
Arriving from P3 car park:
- TBC
Boarding the aircraft from departures lounge:
It’s only a maximum distance of up to 158m from departure gate to aircraft. (2 mins)
Disembarking the aircraft on arrival at Newquay (depending on where the aircraft parks) it is up to:
- Max. 195m to arrivals hall. (3 mins)
Max. 558m to furthest point of West car park. (8 mins) Max. 330m to West car park disabled parking bays. (5 mins) Max. 277m to furthest point of East car park. (4 mins) Max. 303m to East car park disabled parking bays. (5 mins)
*Based on an average walking speed of 2.5 miles per hour.
Airport Forum for Accessible Travel
Newquay Purple Angels
Newquay Purple Angels have been working with Cornwall Airport Accessibility forum and in 2021 provided us with six MP3 players to further develop an inclusive environment for passengers travelling.
The MP3 players will be available to passengers who have dementia to reduce the unfamiliar noises of a busy environment, and to ensure they feel at ease whilst travelling through the Airport.
Airport Forum for Accessible Travel
At Cornwall Airport Newquay, we have our very own forum for accessibility when travelling. This is made up of a group of volunteers with different assistance needs who have recently travelled by air, or would like to in the future. Our first meeting was a great success and everyone went away feeling very enthusiastic and excited about the differences this forum can make in ensuring air travel is more inclusive.
The forum meets quarterly and we will publish the minutes from these meetings on our Passengers with Reduced Mobility web page.
The agenda covers varied topics including accessibility improvements and provides a standard and commitment for the continued growth of our passenger experience at Cornwall Airport in line with aviation industry practices. Further details can be found here.
Josh Wintersgill is the chairman of our Accessibility meetings. ‘Cornwall is a wonderful county, with so much for everyone to explore. To open up more opportunities for people to travel to and from Cornwall, the airport plays a critical role and I am delighted to lead Cornwall Newquay Airport Accessibility Advisory Group. I will ensure the group has broad representation of disability, so it can provide independent strategic accountability on accessibility in the short, medium and long term. The airport staff are doing a brilliant job to date, but there is much more to do.’
Accessible Travel Familiarisation Tours of Cornwall Airport Newquay
We have held a number of familiarisation tours for members of the disability community who have always wanted to visit new places but have not considered travelling by air to our tours. Cornwall Airport Newquay wishes to show you this is an inclusive environment and there are no barriers to flying. These can include private requests for families and small groups to have a tour of the airport and to alleviate any fears they may have about travelling.
Previous examples include:
- Hosting a family and a small group of young adults who have autism, and a young adult with anxiety who were due to be travelling later in the year.
- Holding a familiarisation day for anyone who requires assistance and wanted a tour of the Airport terminal. This was a great opportunity to experience a live airport environment and have access to an aircraft.
Upcoming dates
For more information on these meetings, please email Kelly Jones on kelly.jones@cornwallairportnewquay.com
Downloads
- Airport_Forum_Terms_of_reference (pdf)
- Accessibility_forum_familiarisation_tour_26th_March_minutes (pdf)
- Accessibility_Advisory_Group_5th_November_22_minutes_ (pdf)
- Accessibility_forum_minutes_4_Feb_2023 (pdf)
- Accessibility_forum_minutes_22_May_2023 (pdf)
- Accessibility_forum_minutes_091023-2 (pdf)
- Accessibility_forum_minutes_230324 (pdf)
Useful links and resources
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have produced a helpful pocket-sized guide with top tips for disabled people travelling by air: Your Passport to a Smooth Journey.
All airports have a legal responsibility under European Regulation 1107/2006 to provide assistance to passengers with reduced mobility.
To provide feedback on our services and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, please complete our survey.
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