British Airways to resume flights between Newquay airport and Heathrow this month
British Airways will resume the sorely missed flights between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Heathrow on Friday 24th July.
It has now been confirmed that the vital air link between the county of Cornwall and the international London hub will recommence on Friday 24th July, initially operating three flights per week, and increasing to five a week in August, and then daily from September.
This will no doubt be fantastic news for those who were so disappointed when FlyBe closed the doors and ceased very popular routes, including this route between Heathrow and Newquay, and it is ceratinly of course, good news for us, as we look forward to welcoming our London based Newquay Airport Taxis #henvercars customers back to the airport at Newquay.
The London – Newquay route will continue to run under a joint Government/Cornwall Council PSO (public service obligation), ensuring that the service continues to operate even if it is loss making, which is further good news as so many people were relying on this service on a regular routine basis.
Of course the airport at Newquay has put safety measures in place as you would expect, including the compulsory wearing of face masks over the age of 11 years, and directional passenger flow.
Our local MP Steve Double has been reported on Cornwall Live to state that: “It is crucial that the vital Newquay-London route is maintained and I am delighted to see the Government continues to back this route, going through Heathrow, for residents, businesses and visitors to Cornwall. This connection supports many local businesses as well as tourism across the county. Thanks to ministerial colleagues and Cornwall Council for their work in securing this vital link and I am pleased to see this back in place to aid Cornwall in its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.”
And the transport portfolio holder for Cornwall Council Geoff Brown Has been reported as stating: “I welcome the arrival of British Airways in Cornwall to operate our key route between Newquay and London. This PSO service not only protects Cornwall’s links with London, but will also offer excellent connectivity around the world into the future. While it is vital for our residents and business community that direct flights between Newquay and London are reinstated, we are taking a measured approach at this time and I am pleased that British Airways has recognised the importance of a phased return of the London service.
“We are confident that as the airline industry begins to make steps to resume operations, the introduction of this well respected national airline, operating into the UK’s major hub airport will offer fantastic worldwide connectivity and a major boost for both Cornwall’s airport and the economy of the region.
“The collapse of Flybe was a blow, but we have been able to work with Cornwall Airport Newquay, the Department for Transport and St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double, to secure the new operator.
“British Airways will be operating the PSO route under an emergency order for seven months while we work with the DfT to run the tender process for the four year contract which will begin in March 2021.”
This is great news, and we are looking forward to seeing the return of the flights that Pete Downes, managing director at Cornwall Airport Newquay, has said form the corner stone of the recovery strategy at Cornwall Airport Newquay and we at @newquayairporttaxis could not agree more.