Loganair has started its Cornwall and Manchester route a month earlier than planned to meet demand.
This winter, rival airline Flybe had been running its own flight from Newquay to Manchester but that came to an end when Flybe collapsed into administration on January 28.
Now, Loganair has restarted its own Manchester route, marking the return of a daily service from February 10.
Amy Smith, head of commercial at Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “The connection between Manchester and Newquay is and always has been one of our most popular routes. We’re delighted to have Loganair back serving this market, as well as other much needed connections to Scotland and the North.
"We look forward to continuing to work closely with Loganair to further build on the relationship and their commitment to Cornwall.”
After Flybe announced its return to Newquay airport last August, Loganair said it was with a 'heavy heart' that it was cancelling its winter schedule for the Manchester route including ongoing services to Aberdeen and Newcastle.
At the time, it blamed 'short-sighted and short-term decisions by the airport’s management to incentivise unsustainable operations by other airlines leaving no prospect of winter flights remaining viable'.
That decision was made just days after Flybe announced its comeback with flights from Cornwall - including its own route to Manchester - from October 30.
However, with the collapse of Flybe just three months later on January 28, Loganair has now re-started its flights from Newquay.
It said that it had brought the route back onto sale in November 2022 for a February take off because of anticipated high demand.
Luke Lovegrove, chief commercial officer at Loganair said: “It’s great to be back at Cornwall Airport Newquay and to be able to offer our customers increased choice and year-round service.
“Customer demand for Summer 2023 has been encouraging – so much so that we took the decision to bring forward the relaunch of our Manchester to Newquay service to today in time for half-term."
Along with the Cornwall-Manchester reconnection are routes from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Newcastle, Edinburgh, and onward services available to Aberdeen, the Isle of Man and the Scottish highlands and islands.
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