Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) has experienced another busy summer, marking 2024 as a successful year for the airport. As the holiday season comes to a close and schools return, the airport reflects on its busiest months, showcasing both growth in passenger numbers and several key infrastructure upgrades.

Over the past three months, Cornwall Airport Newquay welcomed 160,000 passengers, cementing its place as a key hub for both leisure and business travel in the South West. Unlike many airports that rely on external providers, NQY’s 100% in-house team managed around 66,000 suitcases, delivering a more personalised experience for passengers.

The school holiday period saw Cornwall Airport Newquay achieve an average load factor of 78.9% across its network, with several routes performing particularly well. The top-performing services included:

Ryanair – Alicante: 93.03%

Loganair – Aberdeen via Manchester: 92.25%

EasyJet – Manchester: 92.18%

In terms of total passenger numbers, the top three routes were:

Eastern Airways – Gatwick: 9,929 passengers

Ryanair – Alicante: 7,691 passengers

Ryanair – Faro: 5,608 passengers

Alicante proved to be one of the standout destinations this summer, recording a 205% increase in passengers in August compared to the same period in 2023. The strong demand was further boosted by affordable flights to London Stansted with Ryanair and daily connections to London Gatwick via Eastern Airways.

Passengers also took advantage of routes to Zurich with Edelweiss and Copenhagen with SAS, offering easy access to European destinations. Eurowings’ flights to Dusseldorf were popular with football fans heading to catch UEFA Euro 2024 matches. For those staying closer to home, domestic routes to the Isles of Scilly with Skybus, and quick escapes to Dublin and Belfast with Aer Lingus, remained highly in demand. The airport also added a new route to Guernsey with Aurigny Airlines, further expanding its connectivity across the British Isles.

Beyond the runway, Cornwall Airport Newquay has undergone significant improvements to its passenger facilities. The departure lounge was expanded by 62sq metres, enhancing both the café and retail areas, offering more room for passengers to relax before their flights. The added space and new retail offerings, including a focus on local Cornish products, have been a hit with both domestic and international travellers.

The airport also unveiled a refreshed brand identity over the summer, reflecting Cornwall’s dynamic spirit. The new look aims to position NQY as a leading travel and lifestyle brand in the South West.

This summer saw Cornwall Airport Newquay continue its close ties with the local community, supporting some of Cornwall’s most iconic events. At Boardmasters, the airport celebrated local surf star Lukas Skinner, who claimed titles in both the Junior Open and BYD Pro Men’s Division. Additionally, NQY sponsored the Shetland Pony Grand National at the Royal Cornwall Show, a fitting partnership for an airport that is, as they say, “small but mighty.” NQY was proud to partner with Watergate Bay for Arts on the Beach 2024, supporting a vibrant celebration of creativity that brought together local artists and visitors to enjoy Cornwall’s unique cultural landscape by the sea.

One of the highlights of the summer season was hosting an Edelweiss press trip in collaboration with top Cornish brands such as The Headland Hotel, Fowey Hall, Rick Stein’s, and The Nare. Leading Swiss journalists were introduced to the very best that Cornwall has to offer, showcasing the region as a must-visit destination for international travellers.

As the summer sun sets, there are still plenty of reasons to travel. Dublin flights with Aer Lingus continue until the end of October, with a year-round service to the Irish capital provided by Ryanair. The airport’s daily flights to London Gatwick with Eastern Airways and year-round routes to London Stansted with Ryanair also continue into autumn and beyond. For sun-seekers, there are still flights to Faro with Ryanair until November and will return again in the Spring, while year-round flights to Alicante and Malaga keep the winter sun within easy reach. Loganair’s year-round service to Edinburgh and Manchester also remains, offering convenient interline connections via Manchester Airport to further destinations across the globe, Loganair continue to operate Edinburgh through the winter as well providing vital links to Scotland. London provides a great connection hub too.

NQY is in the midst of a significant terminal upgrade. The new system, which is expected to go live later this year, will allow the airport to process up to 500 passengers per hour, streamlining the check-in and security processes, reducing wait times and enhancing the overall passenger experience.

Looking ahead to the autumn, Cornwall Airport NQY is also set to launch a brand-new website, designed to provide passengers with a more intuitive platform to plan their journeys and access the latest travel information.

Cornwall Airport Newquay would like to extend its thanks to all passengers, partners, and the community for their continued support and patience during this busy period. As the airport heads into the autumn season, exciting new developments and opportunities await. From enhanced services and year-round routes to major terminal upgrades, the airport is well-positioned for growth over the next couple of years.

For more information about the airport and developments, visit cornwallairportnewquay.com.