Eastern Airways Gatwick – Newquay *

Next Wednesday (15 December) sees the first ever arrival of the British regional airline Eastern Airways at Gatwick Airport.  The carrier recently won the right to serve London from Cornwall with a Government-backed Public Service Obligation (PSO).

As a PSO it resurrects a service first introduced in the 1970s by Brymon Airways and flown by a succession of airlines, most recently by the then Flybe, and easyJet last summer.  Expected to be on board are a number of local dignitaries and media.

The 72-seat single class ATR 72-600 turboprop is due to leave the former RAF St Mawgan at 11:00 for the 1hr 15min flight. The return departure is 15:15 (as per the schedule) which should give time for a quick look at the airside Gatwick facilities and a briefing on the rail connections to London Bridge and London Victoria, plus services south to Brighton and other Sussex destinations.    From Thursday the Newquay departure time is 13.00.

The schedule will continue until 17 January when the flights go weekdaily also adding a second service on Sunday's from  12 February, finally by end of March twice daily on a Saturday also with revised timings to help day- return passengers.  Newquay departures are at 08:30 and 15:15 and Gatwick 10:30 and 17:15. The timing are expected to be altered at the end of March to give more time at either end for day return passengers.

Eastern General Manager Roger Hage tells BTN that forward bookings are very positive particularly during the holiday period but there are no flights 24/25/26 December or New Year's Day.

www.easternairways.com

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Fred Ingo, Truro

Well done Eastern but have they chosen the right airport. There are no real long haul connections at Gatwick and since they do not seem to have a codeshare with BA luggage will have to be transferred manually. Surely Heathrow would have been better, even if the cost is more for us passengers. Or even London City with just as many links to Europe and available now.