Cornwall Airport Newquay - General Thread

[CM.]

The Jet2 was doing training not scheduled flights.

 

[forest1979]

Just as we get good news with Flybe, seems like Logan air are pulling back and consolidating their schedules and routes…

 

[Silvercity]

Just as we get good news with Flybe, seems like Logan air are pulling back and consolidating their schedules and routes…

I think they are upset with NQY

 

[Scottie Dog]

As I understand the situation, the airport has apparently offered Flybe a 'sweetener' to start services. Now it is not uncommon for airports to offer incentives to encourage airlines to commence new routes. Loganair are unhappy with this incentive and are therefore withdrawing, at the start of the winter schedule, the services that they currently operate from Newquay.

 

[Jerry]

Just as we get good news with Flybe, seems like Logan air are pulling back and consolidating their schedules and routes…

As Scottie said loganair aren't happy with the deal that Newquay have made with Flybe2

 

[forest1979]

Interesting - I’m not sure what I make of Logan air but pretty sure someone will pick up their bigger routes to NQY. Summer is getting much busier with flying tourists…

 

[Jerry]

Well they operated Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Teesside i believe. Easyjet operate Manchester and Glasgow, Flybe also Manchester now. Whether Newquay will ever replace the lost flights from Loganair only time will tell but if Flybe don't survive or do a runner in the future Newquay may have well burnt their bridges with Loganair for a while at least.

 

[Ashley.S.]

Sad news coming out today, the owners of Cornwall Airport Newquay (Cornwall Council) are evicting a self-sustaining educational business (Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre) that pays their way from a patch of land (6-10 acres) they rent off the airport/council:

Council evicts aviation museum and it will now close forever

The award-winning Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre tourist attraction and education centre said it will have to leave by the end of March and most of its aircraft which have been lovingly restored by volunteers would be scrapped

www.cornwalllive.com

Popular aviation museum forced to close after Cornwall Council evicts it

A much loved aviation heritage centre is being forced to close after Cornwall Council terminated its lease and told it to vacate its home by the end…

www.falmouthpacket.co.uk

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What do you think the council have plans for the 655 acres of land? Add this to the FlyBe2 saga, it's as if the council are setting up the airport to fail so the airport can be closed entirely and all land sold to developers or something...

Post automatically merged: Sep 1, 2022

The council have responded with their side of the story:

STATEMENT: Cornwall Council responds to potential CAHC closure​

Cornwall Airport Newquay is an operational airport which is vital to the region's connectivity to the UK. It is currently subsidised by the Cornish taxpayer and Cornwall Council is committed to develop the airport in a way which minimises this subsidy and continues to develop the site as a key part of Cornwall’s transport and business infrastructure.

As part of this work, the council is reviewing the use of the land at the airport site to ensure the taxpayer is getting the maximum value for money from it and to increase the economic benefit and professional employment opportunities for Cornwall.

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre (CAHC) has been a tenant at Newquay Airport since 2015. They signed a disclaimer at that point acknowledging there was no right of renewal when its lease expired in 2021. However, in order to assist the centre to find a new site, the Council extended the lease by a further 12 months.

Cornwall Council and Cornwall Airport Newquay are not responsible for the operation of a private business and securing a site on which to operate is the responsibility of the management of the centre.

Cornwall Council has made it clear to CAHC that we will consider assisting them to move to a new location when a credible, costed and deliverable proposal has been developed. However, this remains the responsibility of the centre.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council...l-council-responds-to-potential-cahc-closure/

 

[Jerry]

That's a shame, hopefully the museum can find a new home.

 

[Ashley.S.]

Confirmed, Cornwall Council want to sell off Cornwall Airport Newquay and is discussing it in private!

Cornwall councillors oppose proposals to sell off Newquay Airport

Cornwall councillors have opposed plans to sell Cornwall Airport Newquay and for the council to retain a minority stake. A report regarding a…

www.falmouthpacket.co.uk

Cornwall councillors have opposed plans to sell Cornwall Airport Newquay and for the council to retain a minority stake. A report regarding a strategic review of the airport commissioned by the council was presented to councillors behind closed doors.

During the confidential session it is believed that a majority of councillors on the committee voted against or abstained from voting on a proposal from consultants that Cornwall Council should seek to sell the airport and only retain a minority share. It was suggested that many councillors opposed such “privatisation” as it would be unlikely to get support from the full council.
One councillor challenged the decision to take the item in private but councillors voted to exclude the press and public from the discussion. The council’s economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee had been presented with an item on a strategic airport review at its meeting this afternoon.
Council officers had said that the report should be given and discussed in private because it contained information about financial or business affairs. They had said that whilst it might be considered to be in the public interest to discuss the item openly they considered that it would be detrimental to the council if it was to disclose information contained in the report.

Independent councillor Tim Dwelly had made a point of order at the start of the meeting about the decision to go into “part two” – referring to the private section of the meeting – and challenged officers to justify that decision.
He said that whilst there might be some information in the report which should be considered confidential he also felt that the wider report could have been debated in public.
Cllr Dwelly said that it was in the public interest that such a large asset in the council’s ownership should be discussed openly. He said: “It is a hugely strategic question about whether we sell or part sell the airport. It is an extremely important part of the economy of Cornwall and should be debated in public in my opinion.”

He added: “I don’t think I have ever seen a report as important as this to be taken entirely in part two. We can’t possibly be talking about the future of the airport and whether it should be sold in private.”
Council officers conceded that it was “unusual” for an entire report to be taken into confidential session but they said that it contained information that was “commercially sensitive” and that disclosing that information would “impact the business of the airport”.
They said that the report was only a preliminary step in a process and would not result in any decisions being taken. Further reports would be presented to councillors in due course.
When the committee came back into public session the agreed recommendation was that the committee agreed that it would “support the objectives of phase two” and that councillors supported moves to maximise the economic impact of the airport and ensure the continuing operation of the airport and that the council should seek to minimise the financial burden of the airport on the Cornish taxpayer.
Cornwall Council has previously said that it would like to reduce the amount of subsidy that the council pays to keep the airport running – last reported to be around £3.5million a year. It has said that it wants to use more of the land at the airport for business development and is undertaking a review of the whole site.
The airport site is already home to the commercial airport itself as well as Spaceport Cornwall which is set to see the first horizontal launch by Virgin Orbit later this year. Part of the airport site has already been developed as an Enterprise Zone which saw the creation of Aerohubs which provide business and workspace.
Cornwall Council has recently submitted the airport as a possible location for an Investment Zone which would relax planning and taxation rules to encourage businesses to invest. However, the future of Investment Zones is uncertain as they were announced by former Prime Minister Liz Truss during her short time in office. More information about them is expected in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s autumn statement due to be delivered this week.

Plan emerges to sell off Newquay airport

A report concerning a strategic review of the airport was discussed by councillors behind closed doors

www.cornwalllive.com

Cornwall councillors have opposed plans to sell Cornwall Airport Newquay and for the council to retain a minority stake. A report regarding a strategic review of the airport commissioned by the council was presented to councillors behind closed doors.

During the confidential session, it is believed that a majority of councillors on the committee voted against or abstained from voting on a proposal from consultants that Cornwall Council should seek to sell the airport and only retain a minority share. It was suggested that many councillors opposed such “privatisation” as it would be unlikely to get support from the full council.


The council’s economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee had been presented with an item on a strategic airport review at its meeting this afternoon. One councillor challenged the decision to take the item in private but councillors voted to exclude the press and public from the discussion.

Council officers had said that the report should be given and discussed in private because it contained information about financial or business affairs. They had said that whilst it might be considered to be in the public interest to discuss the item openly they considered that it would be detrimental to the council if it was to disclose information contained in the report.

Independent councillor Tim Dwelly had made a point of order at the start of the meeting about the decision to go into “part two” - referring to the private section of the meeting - and challenged officers to justify that decision.


He said that whilst there might be some information in the report which should be considered confidential he also felt that the wider report could have been debated in public.

Cllr Dwelly said that it was in the public interest that such a large asset in the council’s ownership should be discussed openly. He said: “It is a hugely strategic question about whether we sell or part sell the airport. It is an extremely important part of the economy of Cornwall and should be debated in public in my opinion.”


He added: “I don’t think I have ever seen a report as important as this to be taken entirely in part two. We can’t possibly be talking about the future of the airport and whether it should be sold in private.”

Council officers conceded that it was “unusual” for an entire report to be taken into confidential session but they said that it contained information that was “commercially sensitive” and that disclosing that information would “impact the business of the airport”.

They said that the report was only a preliminary step in a process and would not result in any decisions being taken. Further reports would be presented to councillors in due course.

When the committee came back into public session the agreed recommendation was that the committee agreed that it would “support the objectives of phase two” and that councillors supported moves to maximise the economic impact of the airport and ensure the continuing operation of the airport and that the council should seek to minimise the financial burden of the airport on the Cornish taxpayer.

Cornwall Council has previously said that it would like to reduce the amount of subsidy that the council pays to keep the airport running - last reported to be around £3.5million a year. It has said that it wants to use more of the land at the airport for business development and is undertaking a review of the whole site.

The airport site is already home to the commercial airport itself as well as Spaceport Cornwall which is set to see the first horizontal launch by Virgin Orbit later this year. Part of the airport site has already been developed as an Enterprise Zone which saw the creation of Aerohubs which provide business and workspace.

Cornwall Council has recently submitted the airport as a possible location for an Investment Zone which would relax planning and taxation rules to encourage businesses to invest. However, the future of Investment Zones is uncertain as they were announced by former Prime Minister Liz Truss during her short time in office. More information about them is expected in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s autumn statement due to be delivered this week.

 

[forest1979]

Interesting…
I’ve always believed that there would be a right time to consider a sale to the private sector. Although the council haven’t done a bad job overall in my opinion it’s not core business of one either and I think for true development, it should be undertaken by a private consortium.. I’d add some caution around this also, particularly in the current climate. Looks what’s happened elsewhere. The airport without doubt is a core and vital part of our infrastructure and i would robustly debate that point with anyone. As such and as a local that uses the airport, I’d want some assurance on what we would get back as a Cornish resident..
I think there is still a large untapped inbound tourism market from the continent and we really could do with securing a few more year round routes.
On that note I see eastern are adding East Midlands. Interesting choice but clearly they feel there is demand!

 

[Ashley.S.]

I have my suspicions that if Cornwall Airport Newquay was sold, it would be asset-stripped over time. It's obviously clear the airport is not 100% viable, otherwise, there wouldn't be a PSO on the London - Newquay route, which probably is the quickest and easiest way to get into London for business purposes. With the closure of the aviation museum and now this recent announcement that a sale is on the cards, I think it's becoming clear Cornwall Council isn't interested that much, other than the spaceport...

 

[jfy1999]

Newquay Airport is going to become a spaceport on Monday - although the rocket is being carried on a 747 and launched mid-air rather than being launched from the airport site!

Cornwall space launch viewing information released

The event, scheduled for Monday, will be livestreamed and all tickets available to the public have gone.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Mackadown spotter]

Hi I’m from Birmingham UK.There’s rumours and speculation around eastern airways .Now I know there meant to be flights in the summer from Humberside,Manchester,Gatwick East Midlands and Leeds.There’s rumours about Birmingham Airport is this true and when would it expected to be announced?Thanks

 

[YorkshireLad]

Hi I’m from Birmingham UK.There’s rumours and speculation around eastern airways .Now I know there meant to be flights in the summer from Humberside,Manchester,Gatwick East Midlands and Leeds.There’s rumours about Birmingham Airport is this true and when would it expected to be announced?Thanks

There won't be flights from Leeds this summer. Eastern pulled out of LBA quite suddenly in 2021

 

[CM.]

Hi I’m from Birmingham UK.There’s rumours and speculation around eastern airways .Now I know there meant to be flights in the summer from Humberside,Manchester,Gatwick East Midlands and Leeds.There’s rumours about Birmingham Airport is this true and when would it expected to be announced?Thanks

Can’t see Birmingham happening since they’ve announced East Midlands from Newquay.

 

[Jerry]

Twitter thread from Virgin Orbit on their maiden launch from Newquay tonight. The rocket will carry 9 satellites into low Earth orbit (one of them made in Wales, Tremorfa in Cardiff i believe).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1612548834835439665

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Livestream on YouTube -

Take off scheduled for 22:01, but rocket launch will be dome time after that.

 

[HPsauce]

The Virgin Orbit B744 N744VG is on it's launch flight now. Airborne 22.00 from Newquay.

Post automatically merged: Jan 10, 2023

Sadly the first rocket launch was a failure. The rocket failed to reach it's required orbit. They will try again at some future date.

 

[mullion]

I see Loganair are taking over tha MAN schedule on 10 Feb from the now defunct Flybe