News: Ryanair cut Newquay Flights
Flights > News > # 541 (01/09/2005)
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BUDGET airline Ryanair are planning to scale back their operation at Newquay Airport following the decision by airport owners Cornwall County Council to introduce a £5 surcharge to all adult passengers flying out of the region from the end of October.
The Irish airline is withdrawing 12 flights per week between Newquay and London Stansted on October 26th, reducing its schedule to a single daily flight.
Ryanair deputy chief executive Michael Cawley slammed the county council, claiming the resulting drop in visitor numbers could cost Cornwall millions of pounds in lost revenue.
Mr Cawley said: “Cornwall County Council’s ridiculous decision to introduce a £5 tax per departing passenger would result in increased revenue of £500,000 for the council and a reduced income for the region of £10.5 million, leaving Cornwall worse off to the effect of £10 million per annum in terms of expenditure by visitors brought by Ryanair from London.”
Mr Cawley added: “With this type of misguided economics is it any wonder that regional tourism in the UK is suffering.”
But the local authority insist they need to charge the levy in order to help fund a £2.8 million expansion programme at the airport.
The county council’s economy chief Andrew Mitchell said bringing in the Airport Development Fee was essential to the airport’s future success, adding: “We are currently talking to a number of other operators about expanding the flights to and from Newquay. The flights to London Stansted are very popular with both local residents and visitors and I am confident that another airline will be interested in taking up any slots freed up by Ryanair’s decision.”
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Comment:
This looks like another case of Ryanair's more aggressive tactics, which Cornwall County Council have taken a firm stance against.
If Ryanair kicked up a fuss at the start of the summer season, or if they pulled away from this route completely,
