Newquay Cornwall Airport is looking forward to a strong year in 2008, expecting to carry up to 550,000 passengers on a bolstered 23-strong route network and offering more frequencies to London and the UK regions than ever before. In comparison, it ushered in 2007 with just 11 routes.

Newquay Cornwall Airport’s growth is expected to be above the national average, reflecting the heightened popularity of regional airports and the ease and convenience of flying from your local airport.  With this attractive network of routes, Cornish-based flyers no longer have to drive for hours up the motorway to fly to the continent.

 

This year, Newquay’s network will embrace Girona, close to Barcelona and Alicante with Ryanair; to Dusseldorf with Lufthansa; to St Brieuc in Brittany with Skybus - plus an expanded range of domestic services, including the return of regular flights to Cardiff International.  (Skybus starts its daily flights to Cardiff from 10 March.)

 

Plymouth-based airline Air Southwest is offering new domestic flights to Newcastle, Glasgow and Cork, while Flybe, Europe’s largest low cost regional airline, is expanding its UK route network to Newquay from the start of the summer timetable with regular flights to Birmingham, Glasgow, Southampton and Isle of Man.

 

During December Newquay handled its first seasonal flights to Prague to enjoy that city’s famous Christmas Markets and Flybe joined with Inghams Travel to offer ski package flights to Geneva.  There are plans to add more ski destinations next winter, with Air Southwest having already announced Chambery as part of its Winter 2008 schedule.

 

In line with its growth in passenger traffic, Newquay Cornwall Airport has completed phase one of its passenger terminal refurbishment, including the arrival of new landside and airside cafés, Horizons, in a joint partnership with Skypartners Ltd, enhanced check-in and security areas and a new entrance to the terminal building that gives passengers a view of the sea right from the doorstep.

 

Plans are underway, supported by the recent confirmation of EU state funding, for more investment in airport operations and infrastructure - including enhancements to the runway and associated taxiways, improved navigational aids, including a new control tower.  Further enhancements are planned for the terminal building and car parks to provide capacity for up to 700,000 passengers.

 

In addition, the airport’s website www.newquaycornwallairport.com has recently been enhanced to show all live arrival and departure information of Newquay serving airlines, in association with Tandata.

 

Chris Cain Project Director of Newquay Cornwall Airport said:  “Without a doubt Newquay Cornwall Airport is now on the map, bringing in more air services to the people and businesses of Cornwall. The importance of the airport as an essential gateway and catalyst to the Cornish economy can not be underestimated. We are delighted to see the route network expanding from Newquay Cornwall Airport this year and we especially welcome the new services which were previously not served. The interest we are seeing from airlines demonstrates how attractive the airport is becoming as a gateway to and from Cornwall.”

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