Loganair is suspending its operations at Cornwall Airport Newquay this winter.
Daily services to Manchester and onwards to Aberdeen, together with non-stop flights to Edinburgh and Newcastle, will be cut between November and March.
In all, almost 300 flights scheduled to Newquay over the coming winter season have been withdrawn from the the UK’s largest regional airline’s schedule.
Summer routes linking Newquay with Teesside and onwards to Inverness will not return next year, with planned growth on other routes set to be redirected to other UK airports.
The announcement came just days after it was revealed that Flybe would be returning to Cornwall, operating flights to London and Manchester from October.
A spokesperson for Loganair said: “Despite all of the challenges that the pandemic has delivered, we’ve worked incredibly hard over the last two years to build up our presence at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
“We’re most disappointed that short-sighted and short-term decisions by the airport’s management to incentivise unsustainable operations by other airlines leave no prospect of winter flights remaining viable, particularly against a backdrop of high fuel prices and rising inflation.
“In the meantime, we’ll be directing our efforts towards other UK regional airports such as Southampton, Exeter and Cardiff, where airport managements recognise and appreciate the enormous value that year-round, sustainable regional air services can bring to their communities and local economies.”
Loganair has contacted all customers with forward winter bookings on the affected routes to offer a change of travel date or refund options.
A statement from Cornwall Airport Newquay explained: “As an airport we are committed to serving the people and economy of Cornwall and this is what drives the commercial decisions we make as an airport.
“London and Manchester have historically made up over 50% of the passenger volumes to and from Cornwall Airport Newquay and we are delighted to now be able to offer the choice of up to three flights a day to both Heathrow (Flybe, commences 30 October and British Airways) and Gatwick (Eastern Airways), with three airlines operating services to Manchester (Loganair, Flybe and easyJet), helping to build back not only the capacity needed on these routes but also offering choice and flexibility to our passengers.“
Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council member for transport, claimed that the decision to axe the flights was due to the airport’s “success” in securing the return of Flybe.
“I am very disappointed that Loganair decided to withdraw their operation - it seems to be a reaction to the success we have had to bring back Flybe to our schedule.
“Despite their departure, we need to provide greater capacity, which was part of the reason to be so supportive of Flybe deciding to return to Newquay.”
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