UK regional airline Loganair is to suspend operations from Cornwall Airport Newquay this winter and will instead “direct our efforts” at other airports such as Southampton, Exeter and Cardiff.
The carrier said its daily services from Newquay airport to Edinburgh and Newcastle would be suspended between November 2022 and March 2023, as would the flight that travels to Manchester and then on to Aberdeen.
The move will see around 300 flights to Newquay being withdrawn from Loganair’s schedule. The airline also announced that its route from Newquay to Teesside and on to Inverness would not return in 2023.
Loganair’s decision came just days after rival UK regional airline Flybe announced it would be returning to Newquay by offering flights to both London Heathrow and Manchester this winter.
A Loganair spokesperson said: “It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve taken the decision to withdraw our entire winter Newquay programme and to curtail our Summer 2023 plans too.
“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.
Cornwall Airport Newquay said it was “disappointed” by Loganair’s decision to cancel its flights to Manchester and Edinburgh this winter.
“But we would like to reassure our passengers that a daily service to Manchester is still available with Flybe and we look forward to welcoming Loganair back on both routes in the spring,” said a spokesperson.
“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. We are delighted that we now have more airlines operating from the airport than before the pandemic, offering destination and airline choice to suit every traveller.”