The Public Service Obligation (PSO) flight from Newquay Airport to London Gatwick is being withdrawn two months earlier than originally planned, with the last flights taking place tomorrow (Thursday 2 April).
Customers received emails this week saying their flights had been cancelled.
The service – which is funded by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport – has been operated by Cornwall’s Skybus since the former Eastern Airways operator exploded last November.
The provisional tender, which was due to expire on May 31, was awarded to Cornwall’s Skybus, which had problems finding a plane of sufficient size and saw a 20 per cent seat gap.
Cornwall Council agreed to abandon the service in February after failing to attract tenders to develop the PSO during two tenders. It currently prefers to seek a commercial link, particularly at London City Airport.
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Skybus customers who booked tickets to London received emails this week saying their next flights had been cancelled.
They were told: “As you know, the planes are being operated under a Public Service Obligation that was scheduled to end on May 31, 2026.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, Skybus has advised Cornwall Council that services will cease at an earlier date. The last services in each direction will take place on Thursday 2nd April 2026.
“We are therefore contacting all customers on bookings throughout April and May to advise them that flights will no longer be taking place as planned.”
Customers have been told they will receive a full refund, with Skybus adding “we regret the disappointment and inconvenience we understand the flight cancellation may cause”.
A frustrated passenger, who did not want to be named, said: “We have connecting flights – now it will be a six-hour train journey, and there is extra time to rest before the ten-hour connecting flight.”
One contacted CornwallLive to say: “I think this affects many who may have booked as part of a long ongoing trip. I personally have to make complicated travel arrangements, including overnight stays, in order to re-arrange my trip with other providers.”
A Skybus spokesman said: “The last flight in each direction will take place on the evening of Thursday 2 April: passengers with travel bookings in April and May should contact Skybus today for a full refund.
“Unforeseen circumstances that have emerged in recent weeks have led to the decision, which Cornwall Council has been informed of under the terms of a Community Commitment agreement between the airline and the council.”
Skybus chief executive Jonathan Hinkles added: “The significant increase in global costs following the Gulf conflict, together with the significant drop in new passenger traffic since mid-February and the announcement of the planned closure of the PSO route on May 31, creates an insurmountable disruption to the service that continues into April and May.
“At a time of great economic uncertainty and measures being taken to conserve energy around the world, it is neither environmentally nor economically sound for us to continue flying with significantly reduced passenger numbers.
“We would like to extend our thanks to all those who have supported us – whether as passengers, as local stakeholders or as members of the team delivering services to our customers – in recent months of our Cornwall-London air service delivery.”
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