Flights between Newquay and London are set to continue for a further two years.

The Government has today (Nov 22) confirmed that it will provide up to £4.3 million to fund direct flights between London and Newquay, as well as London and Dundee, in what it describes as a major boost for regional links across the country.

Cornwall Council will receive up to £1.8 million over two years to run flights from London to Newquay.

The Government has also confirmed that it will provide up to £2.5 million to fund direct flights for a further two years between Dundee and London until 2023.

This funding will keep an important route running, supporting regional links across the country.

Flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Gatwick will start on December 9 2021 and will be operated by Eastern Airways.

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Robert Courts, Aviation Minister said: "We're maintaining these vital transport links, including the hugely popular London to Dundee and the reinstated Newquay to London routes, for people right across the country for tourism and business travel.

"The Government is fully behind UK regional connectivity and strengthening these routes as we build back better from the pandemic."

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, Philip Desmonde, said: "It is vital for our residents and business community that direct flights between Newquay and London are maintained and I welcome the news that Eastern Airways will operate our key route.

"This PSO service not only protects Cornwall’s links with London but also offers excellent connectivity around the world into the future.

"While connectivity is vital, we must seek to minimise the impact of air travel on the environment.

"The Council has worked with all parties to ensure that the environmental impact of the air route is kept to a minimum by selecting aircraft which have lower emissions and lower noise impacts, as well as aligning schedules to ensure capacity meets demand.

"Aviation forms part of the Department for Transport’s commitment to decarbonise transport by 2050, which includes a number of initiatives and commitments to enable domestic aviation to achieve Net Zero."

Steve Double MP for St Austell and Newquay said: “I am delighted to have worked with Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport to help secure this vital route to keep Cornwall connected to London and beyond.

"Having made the case personally to ministers in the Department for Transport I am very grateful for the additional funding the government have made available for this route that is crucial to the future of our airport.” 

“This PSO route shows that both the Government and Cornwall Council recognise the importance of maintaining an air route between London and Cornwall, for visitors and business travel alike, and I am pleased to see them take action to secure it for the future, while also taking steps to practicably minimise the impact of air travel on our environment.” 

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."