Daily flights between Newquay and London are set to resume later this month after a short-term agreement between Cornwall Council and Cornish airline Skybus brought the route back to life.
The vital connection, operated under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), had been thrown into doubt following the sudden collapse of the previous operator, Eastern Airways and suspension of flights last week. The PSO arrangement allows Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport to provide financial support if needed, ensuring Cornwall remains connected to the capital year-round.
Under the new agreement, Skybus will act as the interim provider, operating daily flights between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick from Sunday, 23 November, with plans to increase to twice-daily weekday services from mid-February 2026.
‘A Vital Connection to the Capital’
Cllr Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said:
“I’m delighted we’ve managed to find a replacement operator so quickly, and even more so to see a Cornish company stepping in.
It has been a difficult time, with disruption for many people who use the service and had already booked flights, so I am pleased this announcement will help end the uncertainty around this vital connection to the Capital.”
Cllr Tim Dwelly, the council’s portfolio holder for economic regeneration and investment, added:
“Our priority was to get the service back up and running as quickly as possible to minimise disruption for passengers. Restoring this route helps maintain the confidence of business and tourism sectors, and it’s welcome that a Cornish company has the capability to step in and deliver during this interim period.”
Background
The Cornwall–London air link, funded under a Public Service Obligation shared by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, has changed hands several times in recent years. British Airways briefly operated the route in 2020 after Flybe’s collapse, before Eastern Airways took over in 2021 with a four-year PSO contract. When Eastern Airways entered administration on 27 October 2025, all services were suspended, leaving Cornwall without its key connection to London while work began to find a replacement. We reported on the collapse in Eastern Airways Suspends Flights – What It Means for Cornwall.
Cornish Airline Skybus Steps Forward
Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Skybus, said:
“We are thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick. It is not just about making travel easier for passengers; it’s about creating opportunities – for businesses, for tourism, and for the local communities we serve.”
The service will begin with a 70-seat ATR 72 leased from Blue Islands, before a Skybus-liveried aircraft takes over in 2026, operated by Cornwall-based crew under an agreement with Aurigny Air Services.
Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Skybus, confirmed on LinkedIn that Cornwall Council has chosen Skybus to restore the county’s essential air link to London following the collapse of Eastern Airways. He said, “It’s a big day… we’ll re-link Coast to Capital daily from Sunday 23 November.”
Tickets are already available at www.skybus.co.uk, with fares from £79.99 one-way, daily flights increasing to twice-daily from February 2026, and the option for through-bookings to the Isles of Scilly. He also confirmed that former Eastern Airways staff will be retained at Newquay, describing the move as a proud moment for “England’s only regional airline” and a major step in rebuilding dependable, Cornwall-based connectivity to London.
Who Are Skybus, Aurigny and Blue Islands?
Skybus is the airline of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, operating essential air services between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter. The airline has a long record of serving remote island communities with small turboprop aircraft and is now extending that expertise to mainland connections under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme.
Blue Islands is a Jersey-based regional carrier flying ATR turboprops across the Channel Islands, southern England and northern Europe. Known for its community focus, it plays an important role in maintaining reliable regional connectivity within the Channel Islands and to key UK destinations.
Aurigny Air Services, headquartered in Guernsey, is one of the UK’s oldest regional airlines. It provides scheduled services linking Guernsey with destinations such as Southampton, London Gatwick and Alderney. Aurigny works closely with Skybus through a long-term partnership that supports the Alderney route, with Skybus supplying aircraft, training, maintenance and insurance to sustain this vital island link.
Looking Ahead
The reinstated air link marks a significant step forward for Cornwall’s accessibility, particularly during the winter months, when surface journeys to London can exceed 5 hours. With Skybus now operating under the PSO framework, the service not only restores a vital business and tourism connection but also anchors economic benefits firmly within Cornwall.
For the first time, the county’s link to London is being managed by an airline based in Cornwall, supported initially by Blue Islands and moving towards a fully Skybus-operated ATR 72 with locally based pilots and engineers by mid-2026. This approach is expected to safeguard regional aviation skills, create local employment and ensure long-term continuity for the route.
Cornwall Council has confirmed that a new PSO tender will be issued in early 2026 to secure a sustainable, year-round air service for the next four years. While the contract will still go out to open tender, we believe Skybus will be well placed to continue operating the service, given its local base, experience, and its rapid response in restoring the route.
The new arrangement is also expected to strengthen Skybus’s wider network, improving connectivity between London, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through faster connections and integrated ticketing. Industry observers suggest that a locally managed and well-supported link could become a cornerstone of Cornwall’s transport and tourism strategy, bringing the coast, capital and islands closer than ever before.
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Accuracy and Disclaimer
Information in this article is correct to the best of our knowledge as of 6 November 2025. It draws on publicly available statements from Cornwall Council, Skybus, and other verified sources. The piece is intended for general information and analysis only and should not be taken as official travel advice. Readers are encouraged to confirm flight schedules, fares and operational details directly with Skybus or Cornwall Airport Newquay before making travel arrangements. This article may be updated as more information becomes available.