Vital Air Link Restored for Cornwall and London
Air travel between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick has officially resumed, bringing relief to passengers after a month of disruption. The first flight operated by Isles of Scilly-based carrier Skybus took off on Sunday, 23rd November 2025, marking a fresh start for this essential regional connection.
This development follows the abrupt collapse of previous operator Eastern Airways, which entered administration in October, grounding its entire fleet and cancelling all services. The cessation left many passengers stranded and created significant uncertainty for this crucial transport link to the capital.
New Operator and Service Details
Cornwall Council awarded Skybus a short-term contract to cover the route, ensuring the connection's swift restoration. For passengers, the transition has been designed to be as seamless as possible. Flight times, baggage allowances, and check-in arrangements will remain unchanged, according to Skybus.
The flights are initially being operated for Skybus by Ascend Airways, a UK airline, using a Boeing 737 aircraft. All operations are taking place under the Air Transport Licence of Aurigny. A further change is scheduled for early December, when Skybus will transition to using a Q400 78-seat turboprop aircraft on the route.
In a statement on its website, Skybus confirmed: "All passengers will receive a dedicated email with the specific arrangements for the flights on which they are booked." The airline also announced that flights are available to book immediately, with Summer 2026 services for the Newquay to Gatwick route to be released shortly.
Ending Uncertainty for Passengers
Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, expressed his relief at the resolution. He stated last month: “It has been a difficult time, with disruption for many people who use the service and had already booked flights, so I am pleased this announcement will help end the uncertainty around this vital connection to the capital.”
Skybus brings over four decades of aviation experience in Cornwall to the route, primarily known for its year-round service flying to and from the Isles of Scilly. This established local presence provides a layer of reassurance for the route's future.
The reinstated flights follow the administration of regional airline Eastern, which was based at Humberside Airport. The company's failure last month led to hundreds of staff being made redundant and the grounding of all its services across the UK.
RSM UK Restructuring Advisory was appointed as administrator earlier in November. Joint administrator Jamie Miller confirmed that a small number of employees had been retained to maintain the fleet while efforts to rescue all or part of Eastern's operations continue. He added, "We would welcome any interest from potential alternative operators, or those who may have an interest in the underlying assets."
