Newquay airport is coming out of the Covid crisis with a new airline and destination.
Eastern Airways has announced that it will operate a new route between Cornwall Airport Newquay and Teesside International Airport, starting on July 6.
The route will operate up to three times per week, initially running on Mondays and Fridays, with an additional Sunday service added from later July.
The airport stated the new route is an important regional connection and marks a successful start in Cornwall Airport Newquay’s route network recovery after the impact of Covid-19 and the collapse of regional airline Flybe.
Pete Downes, managing director of Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “Given the long distance and journey time of existing transport modes, improving air connectivity between Cornwall and the North of England is vitally important in supporting the recovery of our visitor economy and wider business community, not just as lockdown restrictions begin to ease, but over the long term.
“We look forward to working with Eastern to make the route a success.”
Roger Hage, of Eastern Airways, added: “As a UK regional airline we are all about connecting the various business and tourism sectors which are vital to the economic recovery of the UK, so delighted to take this first step in serving Newquay from the North-East of England when UK travel begins to return for the summer peak.
“This will offer a quick and easy Cornish staycation destination to our growing Teesside International network.”
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The government-funded route from Cornwall to London will resume in September, the chairman of Newquay airport has confirmed.
The service was previously run by Flybe, which collapsed and ceased trading in early March.
The route to London was run under a public service obligation (PSO), funded by a joint government and Cornwall Council initiative.
Cornwall Airport Newquay chairman Tim Jeans has confirmed the service will revert back to Heathrow, resuming at the beginning of September.
An unnamed airline will fly to and from the international hub once a day.
In the meantime, British Airways is set to run a commercial service from Cornwall to Heathrow through July and August. The airline is taking bookings for the route from July 2.
Mr Jeans says passenger health will be the “overriding priority” when the airport reopens on July 1, following a four-month closure due to the coronavirus crisis.
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Services that will resume include the Aer Lingus route to Dublin and the Eurowings flight to Dusseldorf, while Ryanair will resume 100% of its services to Alicante and Faro.
London aside, the airport does not expect domestic services to destinations such as the Scottish cities to resume until 2021.
Mr Jeans said passengers will notice several changes when the facility reopens.
Passengers will have their temperature taken as they enter the terminal, while masks are also likely to be obligatory on all airlines.
Mr Jeans said he expects the airport to fully recover within two years, but admitted it will likely require an increased subsidy from Cornwall Council to ensure its survival.
The current subsidy is £1m a year, but Mr Jeans said that figure would need to "at least double".
Flights to Teesside are bookable now at easternairways.com.