Great new ways to reach one of the UK’s most beautiful counties; Cornwall Airport Newquay has announced a raft of new routes launching in spring 2016 which are set to boost traveller numbers using the West Country airport.
With its recent rebrand, the airport - premier entry-point to England’s western-most county - has placed Cornwall front and centre in the new name whilst the graphic of a Cornish chough - the iconic bird that can be seen in the county after they naturally reintroduced themselves in 2001 - represents flight, transition and the airport’s local feel. However, it’s the range of new routes and flights that has most excited locals – opening up the region both to inbound tourism and the opportunity to travel to new destinations, quickly and economically. With the removal of the Airport Development Fee – the £5 levy for each departing passenger – from April 2016, the airport sees nothing but growth ahead.
FlyBe has recently announced both new routes and additional capacity through the airport. Its tally of routes will soon include three new ones, namely Aberdeen, commencing a weekly flight from 28 May, Doncaster-Sheffield, from which a three-time-weekly service starts on 24 March and Leeds Bradford which is expected to start with a year-round service from June 2016.
Fares for Aberdeen and Doncaster-Sheffield cost from £36.99 one way, including taxes and charges. To book any of these flights, visit www.flybe.com
Additionally, after a 16% increase in passenger numbers using FlyBe’s Gatwick to Newquay route in the past year, the airline will switch its aircraft-type to the larger 118-seat Embraer jet aircraft (40 seats more than currently available) on its three times a day London Gatwick service which will get passengers to their destination quicker with a reduced flight time. This change will mean more availability of course, but also better reliability of service and greater comfort on board. Both business and tourism traffic will benefit. Fares for Gatwick start at £30.99.
Ryanair has also joined the party with a return to the airport that includes two new routes, to Germany and Spain. On 3 April 2016, the low-cost airline will commence flights to and from Alicante in Spain, perfect for the summer holidays, and also to Frankfurt-Hahn airport in western Germany, close to Luxembourg and gateway to some stunning countryside around to the Moselle River valley. This German route is in addition to the existing Eurowings service to Dusseldorf, which has also increased capacity from a 90 seat aircraft to the 144 seat configured A319 both serving the expanding Cornwall-mad German tourist market.
Fares start from £39.99 for Alicante, £36.99 for Frankfurt-Hahn and £73 for Dusseldorf. To book, go to www.ryanair.com and www.germanwings.com (for Dusseldorf).
Aer Lingus has upped the ante too, increasing the frequency and length of season on the service from Dublin starting on 14 March 2016, operated by Stobart Air. Great for those wishing to visit either Dublin or Cornwall, the new schedule also opens up the possibility for onward connectivity to the USA, with US customs pre-clearance at Dublin Airport. This offers fantastic access to the US for the Cornish and west-country traveller not wishing to fly via London. Fares start at £24.99 one way, including taxes and charges – and the 70-minute flight can be booked with Aer Lingus, www.aerlingus.com.
Al Titterington, Managing Director of Cornwall Airport Newquay, says: “This exciting raft of new routes, increased schedules and additional capacity is great news for Cornwall – and those wishing to visit Cornwall of course. We are thrilled with the increase in national and international connectivity that comes with these new flights and look forward to welcoming a growing number of visitors to the county and also to seeing more Cornish residents travel further and more easily than ever before. Added to the removal of the Airport Development Fee, we see great times ahead for the airport and the region.
“We encourage those across the travel trade – both leisure and business – to take another look at flying their customers to Cornwall. It’s a great holiday destination for those who wish to enjoy a UK holiday and there is a huge amount to experience and enjoy in the region.”