Across Europe, airlines are shutting their doors.
In May, Air Belgium declared bankruptcy; in September, Play, Iceland’s budget airline, closed; and the latest blow has seen Eastern Airlines call it quits.
Eastern, a regional carrier serving destinations across England and Scotland, announced it was at the end of the road last month, putting its popular Newquay to London Gatwick route in the firing line.
Now, an unlikely rival has stepped up to take over the service (temporarily).
Skybus, a carrier run by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, has big plans for the route, as it’s now focusing on rebuilding it as a ‘thriving cornerstone’ of the local economy.
Tickets are already on sale, and a new schedule will launch on November 23.
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Prices for a single journey – inclusive of 15kg worth of hold luggage, 6kg of cabin luggage plus a handbag – starting at £79.99.
If you’re already planning your trip down to Kernow, as it’s locally known, the re-launch is starting with one flight a day.
However, from Valentine’s Day 2026, Skybus will be upping the ante with a twice-daily service, meaning you could hop on down to Newquay for lunch and be back in the capital by bedtime.
Aviation fanatics will be eager to know that the flight will be operated using a 70-seater ATR72 — the most popular regional turboprop aircraft in the world.
It’s a pivot for Skybus, as it’s a larger plane than the ones it has exclusively flown across the Isles of Scilly since it opened in 1984.
For now, the relatively short notice means that Skybus has had to borrow a plane from Jersey-based airline Blue Islands, while the more permanent offering is expected to enter Newquay’s fleet midway through 2026.
At the moment, Skybus has a small flight portfolio. It runs just three routes from the Isles of Scilly Airport: one to Exeter, one to Land’s End, and now, to Newquay.
Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Skybus, said: ‘We’re thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick.
‘It’s 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 crucial dependable air links are for our region and are proud to step up and 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.’
Meanwhile, Amy Smith, Cornwall Airport Newquay’s managing director, underlined that Skybus is the organisation’s longest-serving airline partner – and that the airport was ‘delighted’ that it would be taking over the ‘vital’ service later in November.
She said: ‘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.’
Which other routes has the closure of Eastern Airways impacted?
The routes affected by the closure of Eastern Airways are:
Humberside – Aberdeen
Aberdeen – Wick
Aberdeen – Teesside.
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