Runway work set to begin

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2022

The £2.6 million project to harden the grass runways at Land’s End Airport will get underway next month now that £1.3 million of support from the European Regional Development Fund has been confirmed.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company said it would press ahead with the work now before the summer peak season rather than wait until the autumn and risk bad weather affecting the project or causing travel disruption.

It means that Land’s End Airport will close for a short period from July 4-20. All Skybus services scheduled to operate to/from Land’s End Airport during that time will be routed instead through Newquay Cornwall Airport.

All affected passengers are being informed and offered alternative travel arrangements that will minimise inconvenience.

The Land’s End runway works are part of a broader strategic programme of investment worth a total of £9 million that also includes upgrades to the Isles of Scilly Airport on St Mary’s. The project is designed to strengthen lifeline air links to the islands, especially during poor weather.

Rob Goldsmith, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which owns Land’s End Airport, said: “This is excellent news for islanders and visitors who have suffered some severe disruption to and from Land’s End Airport during the extreme weather of the last two winters.

“There will unfortunately be some short-term disruption for which we apologise, but the works will make the air route significantly more robust in the future.”