Newquay Cornwall Airport has welcomed the sale of one of its main airlines.

Air Southwest, which flies regularly in and out of the Newquay airport, has been sold to Eastern Airways.

Owner Sutton Harbour Holdings decided to sell its Plymouth-based airline in May.

New boss Richard Lake, managing director of Humberside-based Eastern Airways, said Air Southwest was “well regarded” by customers and the company wanted to retain that loyalty.

Air Southwest will continue to fly under its existing brand and staff will be employed by Air Southwest .

In a statement today Newquay Cornwall Airport said it was “delighted” that a sale had been agreed that should safeguard year-round air services to and from Cornwall.

The airport’s managing director Al Titterington said: “We welcome the sale of Air Southwest to Eastern Airways. Eastern Airways is a well-established and successful regional airline who operate a similar business model.

“The Eastern Airways model will compliment the existing route network which Air Southwest has developed over the last five years and we’ll be discussing with Eastern Airways how we can maintain and expand that route network to offer greater connectivity to and from the Cornwall.”