The regional carrier will reintroduce the former Flybe route from March 2021
Loganair has announced it will begin flights between Manchester and Newquay next March. The carrier hopes the programme will enhance connectivity within the UK, as well as making it easier for people to travel internationally and worldwide.
Following the collapse of the UK regional airline Flybe earlier this year, connections between Cornwall Airport Newquay and Manchester were cut off.
This news comes just months after British Airways took over the Public Service Obligation (PSO) operation travelling to and from London, switching the services from Gatwick to Heathrow in the process.
Loganair has rostered an ATR72-600, which seats up to 70 passengers, for the route between Manchester and Newquay.
As well as being the UK’s largest regional airline, Loganair has now established itself as the leading carrier in Newquay, as they announced new services travelling to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen earlier this month.
The firm says this new service will produce more opportunities for people wanting to travel internationally. Additional connections can be made via Loganair’s flights at Manchester to Aberdeen, Inverness and the Isle of Man.
Jonathan Hinkles, chief executive of Loganair, said that he was happy with the new service but disappointed with the lack of government backing: “We’re pleased to be adding another route to our networks at both Newquay and Manchester. We’ve been working closely with Cornwall Airport Newquay to restore UK regional connectivity following the collapse of Flybe earlier this year.
“Although we wished to see the Government support this programme with a PSO nomination for the Manchester-Newquay route to permit more frequent services to be established, we’re nonetheless going ahead with a daily service from March 28, 2021.”
Flights from Manchester to Cornwall Airport Newquay will depart from Terminal 3 at 10.55am, taking 80 minutes in total to fly down to the Cornish town. Return services from Newquay will leave at 12.50pm every day, arriving in Manchester for 2:10pm.