New flights for Newquay to Gatwick to start
PA MediaNew flights between Cornwall and London are set to start later this summer, an airline has said.
EasyJet has announced a new twice-weekly service between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick, with the first flight to take off on 23 June.
Cornwall Council said it hoped the new route would "strengthen direct domestic connectivity" between Newquay and London.
Nigel Scott, commercial director for Cornwall Airport Newquay, said the new route "provides an affordable and convenient way for visitors to access the region during one of our busiest periods".
The flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the council said.
The route to Gatwick currently provided by Skybus is under a Passenger Service Obligation (PSO) contract jointly funded by the government and the council.
The government's contribution has been reduced and Cornwall Council said the service would need a taxpayer subsidy of between £14m and £16m over the next four years if it was to continue.
Skybus' managing director Jonathan Hinkles previously said the airline would stop its service by 31 May after its tender to continue the PSO route had been refused and customers were being fully refunded for forward bookings.
Councillor Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for economic regeneration and investment, said the new routes were welcome.
"Alongside the flights already in place to London Stansted, it shows we can support a variety of routes between Cornwall and the capital," he said.
"This is really good news for the airport, and for Cornwall as a whole."
Scott added: "Demand for Cornwall continues to grow, particularly from the south-east.
"The Saturday service opens up new leisure connections via Gatwick, with opportunities to align with EasyJet holidays, and we look forward to working together to maximise this potential."
Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.