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We have some good news for people who live in the southwest. Rejoice! Because the direct London to Cornwall flight is about to make a comeback.
Two weeks ago (November 7) Eastern Airways, a regional airline which ran a service between Cornwall’s Newquay and London Gatwick, went into administration. Londoners wanting to travel to Cornwall thought that meant they would be destined to take the five-hour train (or even longer coach) to the southwest forevermore. Until another air operator stepped in to save the day.
Skybus, a carrier operated by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, has flown in like a knight in shining armour to take over the route. It’s only temporary for now, but the airline has revealed loftier plans for the future.
The Skybus flight will launch on November 23, with flights already on sale. Prices for a single journey – inclusive of 15kg worth of hold luggage, 6kg of cabin luggage plus a handbag – start at £79.99. For comparison, a return journey on the train can often cost upwards of £100 with a railcard. Typically, a flight from London to Cornwall takes a speedy one hour and 15 minutes, whereas the train can take more than five hours.
From November there will be one flight per day, but from February 14 2026 this will increase to two per day. The company said it hoped to rebuild the route as a ‘thriving cornerstone’ of the local economy.
The flight will be operated using a 70-seater ATR72 — the most popular regional turboprop aircraft in the world. Because of the short notice, Skybus has had to borrow a plane from Jersey-based airline Blue Islands. Currently the Cornish company only runs a select few very local routes, offering air journeys from the Isles of Scilly to Land’s End, Exeter, and now Newquay.
Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Skybus, said: ‘We’re thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick.
‘It’s not just about making travel easier for passengers; it’s about creating opportunities – for businesses, for tourism, and for the local communities we serve.
‘As a Cornish company with more than 40 years of aviation experience, we understand how crucial dependable air links are for our region and are proud to step up and operate this vital route. Our focus is on rebuilding confidence and offering reliability, and we look forward to providing passengers with the service they deserve.’
The famously picturesque rail route between two legendary UK cities that is getting 2,000 more seats every day.
British Airways will make a ‘game-changing’ improvement to its in-flight experience in 2026 – and it’s totally free.
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