Skybus takes over Cornwall to London route following Eastern Airways collapse

Isles of Scilly based Skybus (IOS) has been awarded the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route between Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY/EGHQ) and London Gatwick (LGW/EGKK) following the collapse of the previous operator, Eastern Airways.

Skybus will commence the flight on the 23rd November 2025 initially with a daily return trip with plans to increase this to twice daily on weekdays from the 14th February 2026.

Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Skybus, said: “We are thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick. It is 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 critical dependable air links are for our region.  We’re proud to step up to 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.

“None of us underestimate the challenge ahead to build the Newquay-Gatwick route to be a thriving cornerstone of the local economy once more. We’re wholly confident that we can achieve this through Skybus’ record for reliability and service.”

Amy Smith, Managing Director, Cornwall Airport Newquay, added: “We’re delighted that Skybus, our longest-serving airline partner, will be taking over the vital London Gatwick service later this month. We know just how important a regular, reliable service between Newquay and London is for our passengers and we look forward to working with Skybus to deliver just that going forward.”

The route will be operated by a 70 seat ATR72 initially leased from Blue Islands before a fully Skybus branded ATR72 joins the airline in mid 2026 under an agreement with Aurigny Air Services.

A Public Service Obligation (PSO) route is an air service that receives government support to ensure vital regional connectivity. These routes are typically not commercially viable on their own, but are considered essential for economic, social, or territorial reason, linking remote or underserved areas to major cities.

Under a PSO, airlines are awarded contracts (often through a tender process) to operate the route in return for a subsidy that offsets operational costs, guaranteeing regular and affordable air links for local communities.

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