Cornwall Airport Newquay retains its position as the UK’s fastest growing regional Airport, recording a 48% growth in passenger numbers for the calendar year 2016.
Between January and December 2016 Cornwall’s Airport handled 369,000 passengers, up significantly from the 250,000 handled in 2015 and making it the third consecutive year of double digit growth.
The future prospects for the Airport continue to look positive as well. Cornwall Airport Limited, the operating company of Cornwall Airport Newquay, has confirmed that it expects to end the 16/17 financial year with passenger numbers up by more than 50%.
The Airport has also announced a host of new routes and service extensions for summer 2017 so the good news looks set to continue. Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have expanded their networks from Newquay introducing new routes for this summer, with Faro commencing in March and Cork in May. Flybe has added more flights to some of its most popular routes from Cornwall Airport Newquay for summer, increasing Manchester to a double daily service and adding additional weekly flights to Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast with Leeds Bradford increasing to five flights a week for its first summer season.
In addition to adding Cork to their Cornwall network, Aer Lingus have increased their Dublin service for this year and added transatlantic connections meaning that New York, Boston, Chicago, Hartford Connecticut and Toronto are just a one-stop flight away from Cornwall and all with the added bonus of the immigration preclearance facility as you connect in Dublin, meaning you effectively arrive stateside as a domestic arrival.
Al Titterington, Managing Director at Cornwall Airport Newquay, commented: “Our business strategy has been to grow the Airport in a way that is sustainable and best meets the needs of the Cornish residents as well as supporting the local economy. Whilst we don’t expect the growth to continue at quite such an extraordinary rate, we do expect to see continued strong and sustainable growth again this year, taking the Airport close to record levels.
“The effect Brexit has had on the pound against the dollar and euro means this year is likely to see an even bigger rise in the number of staycations than we have seen in recent years, adding even more of a boost to the local economy.”
Adam Paynter, Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader of Cornwall Council, added: “This administration has worked very productively with the Airport over the last 4 years to grow the business and reduce the burden on the Cornish council tax payer by more than halving the money we pay to keep the Airport open. Whilst providing a fantastic service to more and more destinations. I meet many first time users of the Airport who are delighted at the cheaper parking, faster and easier passage through check in and security as well as convenience, compared to Exeter or Bristol. Cornwall Airport is a vital part of Cornwall’s transport infrastructure and I urge residents to give it a try.”