EasyJet’s Lungren on view + Newquay

Thursday 29 April sees easyJet’s Johan Lungren on an Aviation Club webinar open to all.  As with the pre-Covid Royal Automobile Club lunches his discourse will be followed by a question and answer session.

His discourse is well timed.  With Cornwall completely cut off by air for the winter, due it is said to local politics, the airport could be overwhelmed with flights this summer, easyJet last week announcing a Gatwick programme Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 June until 30 October.

Aer Lingus (Stobart Air) also last week it was taking over the former Flybe route from Belfast City starting on 28 June, using 72-seater ATR72-600 aircraft.  (See Stobart Air sold in this week’s BTN.)

British Airways, which literally dumped Cornwall for the winter, restarts on 1 July.  A variety of airlines are also offering flights from various airports including Aberdeen, Alicante, Cork, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Dublin, Faro, Isles of Scilly, Jersey, Glasgow, Guernsey Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Teesside, and Zurich.

What happens next is in the hands of the Cornwall Council, handed the responsibility by the Department for Transport (DfT).  The Council recently rejected all tenders for the Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, but has said that it may begin a new process in the autumn.  Blue Islands has suggested a four times daily ATR 72 service from Heathrow, open again for turboprops. Loganair, now a Heathrow operator, also might be interested?  London to Newquay is currently a PSO, an incentive for the winter months.

A local resident who prefers to be anonymous said: “Years ago Brymon ran four flights daily from Heathrow with a de Havilland turboprop without any subsidy. That is what we need now.  British Airways handling of the route is a disgrace and the Cornwall Council conduct of the situation no better.  Business wants a day return ability all the year.”  

https://aviationclub.org.uk

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