Cornwall Airport Newquay is reporting some robust passenger numbers passing through its terminal.
Bouncing back from Covid, numbers rose 138% last year to just over 250,000. And with passenger traffic forecast to reach 450,000 in 2023, airport bosses expect to see its highest-ever number of weekly passengers this summer.
Cornwall Airport Newquay’s head of commercial, Amy Smith, said: “2022 was a fantastic year for us, seeing the airport return to a busy schedule of 115 weekly flights at the peak of the summer season, but this year is when we expect to see close to our record year in 2019 with a predicted 78% increase in passenger traffic.
“Having concentrated on ensuring our customers have not only a choice of different destinations but also a variety of airlines on certain routes, we’re pleased to be able to offer a selection of services as we see multiple airlines recognise the demand from our catchment.”
A significant development for the airport this year was when Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines, increased the frequency of its Dublin service to daily. Additionally, Aer Lingus Regional will connect Newquay with Belfast City, four times weekly, from April 3.
Growth from other carriers includes Ryanair with four new links – Dublin, Edinburgh, London Stansted, and Malaga – while Eastern Airways has launched a daily connection to East Midlands while also expanding its programme to London Gatwick and Humberside following rising demand.
Later in the summer season, the airport will welcome the return of SAS’ service to Copenhagen. Expanding NQY’s international route map, the Scandinavian connection will join Alicante, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Faro, Malaga, and Zurich.
