Regional airline Eastern Airways (T3/EZE) has officially confirmed that it will be launching a direct service between London Gatwick and Cornwall Newquay Airport under a Public Service Obligation (PSO).
The new service will launch on the 15th December and will initially operate daily before increasing to twice-daily from mid-January.
Under the PSO rules, the Department of Transport (DoT) deems it necessary for the links between Cornwall and London to be maintained and that the addition of the Gatwick service will be a boost to the economy and help to foster those links.
Tim Jeans, Interim Director at Cornwall Airport Newquay said: “We’re delighted to have secured Eastern Airways to operate this new service to London Gatwick, the London Airport of choice for many of our passengers. The London route forms the cornerstone of our recovery strategy at Cornwall Airport Newquay and we very much look forward to working with the team at Eastern Airways to rebuild the historically strong demand on the route and make the service a success. We now have 10 airlines who will be operating routes out of Newquay in 2022 to a variety of destinations as the airport starts to play a key role again in keeping Cornwall connected.”
The flights will also help to connect Cornwall with the wider world through connections at Gatwick Airport through airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and JetBlue.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, London Gatwick Airport added: “Gatwick is delighted to welcome Eastern Airways’ new service, connecting London and the South-East with Cornwall and the South-West. By connecting these two regions, it opens up both business and job opportunities – vital as the country looks to recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic.”
Eastern Airways already operates to Newquay having launched flights from Leeds Bradford to Cornwall nearly two years ago.
Adam Wheatley, Managing Director at Eastern Airways, said: “Helping solve vital regional connectivity is what Eastern Airways have done for twenty-five years. Working in partnership with the UK Government and Cornwall Council connecting one of the most distant surface transport journeys in England to the capital via London Gatwick Airport, in a low emission aircraft fits our belief in how sustainable aviation can meet the need of the UK economy and extensive connectivity into the future.“