Image: Cornwall Airport Newquay
Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) is on track for a full recovery in 2023, with passenger traffic predicted to reach 450,000 this year.
Following the airport’s addition of seven new services announced this year, the airport expects to see its highest ever number of weekly passengers through its terminal this summer with a 40% growth on pre-pandemic figures. The new operations include links to Belfast City, Copenhagen, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Malaga.
“2022 was a fantastic year for us, seeing the airport return to a busy schedule of 115 weekly flights at the peak of the summer season, but this year is when we expect to see close to our record year in 2019 with a predicted 78% increase in passenger traffic,” said Amy Smith, Head od Commercial, Cornwall Airport Newquay.
This year also saw Aer Lingus Regional increase the frequency of its Dublin service, now operating daily flights. Through the carrier’s transatlantic network from Dublin, passengers flying from Cornwall will have one-stop links to destinations in North America, where the US Immigration pre-clearance in Dublin will guarantee passengers a hassle-free arrival stateside. Aer Lingus Regional will also connect Newquay with Belfast City, operating four flights weekly from 3 April 2023.
The ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) Ryanair will add four new links to Dublin, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Malaga, part of its almost 60% expansion in services that will see the ULCC operate over 25 weekly flights during summer 2023.
Eastern Airways has also launched a daily connection to East Midlands, while expanding its operations from Newquay to London Gatwick and Humberside following rising demand.
“Having concentrated on ensuring our customers have not only a choice of different destinations but also a variety of airlines on certain routes, we’re pleased to be able to offer a selection of services as we see multiple airlines recognise the demand from our catchment,” added Smith.
