The regional carrier is to cease flying between London Gatwick and its hubs in Newquay and Plymouth on February 1. The decision comes less than a year after the airline dropped its flights to London City.
Speaking to our sister publication abtn.co.uk, an Air Southwest spokesperson said that “The flights were just not being used enough and Gatwick’s landing charges are going up next month”.
The move leaves the carrier without a London connection, following the decision to cut flights to London City from Plymouth and Newquay last year (see online news May 5, 2010). At that time Air Southwest had said it was aiming to “refocus on its successful London Gatwick service”.
The carrier confirmed that all passengers booked to fly from Newquay to Gatwick will be contacted and offered an alternative flight with Flybe free of charge, while those booked on flights from Plymouth will be refunded.
Regional carrier Eastern Airways acquired Air Southwest last year (see online news September 20, 2010), with the Air Southwest brand continuing to be used on routes from Plymouth, Newquay and Bristol, and the Eastern Airways brand present on routes from the East coast, the Midlands, the North of England and North East Scotland.
For more information visit airsouthwest.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
