![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_LT-150126-skybus_04.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe airline operating them has lashed out at the council’s decision. Newquay airport is now seeking commercial options to fly to London City Airport, but that has also come under fire<\/p>\n
16:18, 13 Feb 2026Updated 16:19, 13 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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A Skybus plane flying from Cornwall to London(Image: Skybus)<\/p>\n
The airline currently providing publicly subsidised flights from Cornwall to London has criticised council bosses’ decision to pull the service.<\/p>\n
As part of its budget discussions today (Friday, February 13) Cornwall Council’s Liberal Democrat<\/a> \/ Independent cabinet has decided that the daily Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights should be dropped in favour of finding a commercial operator, taking the financial burden off Cornish taxpayers.<\/p>\n The move has come after the council failed to attract any “valid” tenders<\/a> during two PSO procurement bids over the past nine months.<\/p>\n However, Skybus – which currently operates the PSO service and bid for the contract to continue – says it has “grave concerns” with the cabinet’s decision, also confirming the flights will cease by May 31.<\/p>\n The PSO is funded 50:50 by Cornwall Council<\/a>, which owns Cornwall Airport Newquay<\/a>, and the Department for Transport (DfT).<\/p>\n To sign up to the weekly Cornwall Politics newsletter click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The DfT previously contributed 66.7 per cent. Its decision to drop its funding to 50 per cent is putting additional financial pressure on an already cash-strapped Cornwall Council.<\/p>\n The council has revealed that the service will likely require a taxpayer subsidy of between \u00a314 million and \u00a316 million over the next four years if it continues – with Cornish taxpayers paying directly for half of that amount.<\/p>\n Cllr Tim Dwelly, the cabinet member for economic regeneration and investment, told today’s meeting that there has been a shift among airlines towards commercial routes “that perhaps wasn’t there in the same way earlier” rather than signing up for a PSO deal.<\/p>\n He stressed that while dropping the PSO would save the council money in the long term, it would create extra costs for the airport, particularly in the first year.<\/p>\n Cllr Dwelly added: “Our focus now is trying get flights to London City Airport because we know the business community would prefer that, we know that the landing costs at that airport tend to be lower than airports such as Gatwick and we know that that would be a very different offer than the budget route to Stansted through the current Ryanair flights.<\/p>\n “This would be about flying straight into the heart of London.”<\/p>\n Cllr Dwelly said the PSO could be looked at again further down the line if commercial options prove unsuccessful.<\/p>\n Newquay Green Party<\/a> councillor Drew Creek said he was pleased that the Cabinet had followed up an earlier recommendation, which he proposed alongside Labour<\/a> councillor Kate Ewert, to scrap the PSO and “remove the injustice”.<\/p>\n He said: “It does pose the question, why was the subsidy allowed to go on for so long, offering significant sums of public money to private commercial companies whilst cutting frontline services to children and adults in need here in Cornwall<\/a>.”<\/p>\n He added it didn’t align with Cornwall Council’s net zero commitments or the climate emergency.<\/p>\n Conservative<\/a> councillor Connor Donnithorne raised concerns that if operators didn’t think the route would work with taxpayers’ money why would they take the risk on an entirely commercial basis.<\/p>\n He also urged caution on concentrating on London City Airport as a destination. Cllr Donnithorne said that while good for business, it would be “much less useful” for people leaving Cornwall wanting to access foreign holidays or those wanting to holiday in Cornwall. He thought it could impact on the tourism \/ hospitality sector.<\/p>\n Council leader Cllr Leigh Frost said that the PSO contract was the most flexible ever tendered by the council.<\/p>\n However, the managing director of Skybus which stepped in to run the service when Eastern Airways went bust and tendered to keep it going, is not happy with the council’s decision.<\/p>\n Jonathan Hinkles said: “It is bitterly ironic – on Friday 13th of all days, and in the week where passenger loads have been at their highest since the PSO resumed under Skybus operation – that the council has voted to close the route.<\/p>\n “We stepped in at short notice to maintain services with high hopes for Cornwall, for the airport and for the travelling public that a long-term solution to connect the county to the capital could be maintained.”<\/p>\n Skybus had submitted a full bid with four options to the council to continue the PSO from June 1. “We were the only airline to table proposals: the council has confirmed to Skybus that no other airlines were interested. The council has, for technical reasons, elected neither to consider our bid nor enter into any dialogue over a single disputed element of Cornwall Airport Newquay’s<\/a> fees and charges.<\/p>\n “We have grave concerns about the impact of this decision on Cornwall’s essential connectivity, on continued employment in Cornwall’s aviation sector and most specifically for the viability of Cornwall Airport Newquay.<\/p>\n “The PSO – 50 per cent funded by the UK Department for Transport, funding which will now be lost – made a huge contribution towards the airport’s finances, where other commercial air routes operate on the basis of significant discounts to its rack-rate fees and charges.<\/p>\n “Even if a limited replacement London service now appears, the loss of income to the airport based on huge discounts it has to offer will render its financial position wholly unsustainable.”<\/p>\n The cabinet decision was also criticised by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce CEO<\/a> John Brown this week.<\/p>\n In a private session, the cabinet meeting was given details of which major airlines are interested in delivering commercial flights to London from Newquay.<\/p>\n Skybus said it was contacting relevant passengers to arrange full refunds.<\/p>\n Join CornwallLive’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/p>\n CornwallLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us. 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