Airport Guide

History of Newquay Airport

A relative newcomer to the UK civilian airports scene, the aerial combat of the Second World War largely bypassed Newport, though it then became fully operational with the dawn of the Cold War.

As a strategic bombing base for the USAAF, a large runway was constructed at the airport, allowing all the largest and fastest aircraft of the time to take off and land, and this is still in use today. Indeed, though the United States began pulling all its forces out some years ago, the airport is still very much militaristic, with commercial services operating on the same site as the RAF and both sharing the same fire service and tarmac.

The construction of a new terminal in 2006 means that the airport is able to jump on board the low-cost flights boom, while further expansion is planned, with a new arrivals hall and departures land being given the green light in January 2008.

Travelling to Newquay Airport

Just five miles northeast of the town of Newquay on the north coast of Cornwall, the airport is one of the most difficult to access in the country. While it is well linked to the rest of the county and the south-west of England, travelling to other parts takes considerable time and effort, one of the principal arguments beind the plans to expand the site even further.

Newquay Airport not only gives those living in London and several other cities the opportunity to reach some of the UK's best beaches, but the town is also within easy driving distance of the Eden Project, the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall and the Tate St Ives modern and contemporary art galley.

Airlines Flying from Newquay Airport

Despite the airport's runway being long enough to handle 747 jumbo jets, there are no long-haul services scheduled from Newquay as yet.

That said, for its size, the airport does offer flights to an impressive number of UK and European destinations.

Air Southwest is the largest operator, flying to Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Plymouth as well as Chambery in France during the winter months.

Budget rival Flybe has routes from Newquay to Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Southampton, while Ryanair flies to Alicante, Girona and London Stansted.

In addition, Lufthansa flies to Dussledorf, while bmibaby and British Airways operate routes to Manchester and London Gatwick respectively.