Newquay Cornwall Airport

Civilian Route Development at Newquay Airport Timeline of Activity

1934
The first firm to provide a commercial passenger service to Cornwall was Provincial Airways which in April opened a route between Plymouth and Hayle. By August, Provincial's service included another Cornish stop, at Newquay, the landing strip being located at Trebelzue Big Field.

1939
8^th May- Western Airways opened a route from Swansea to Penzance via Barnstaple and Newquay. At Newquay Western used the northern smaller portion of Trebelzue Big Field which by then had become an AA Landing Ground.

1941
Trebelzue became a satellite landing ground to RAF St Eval and supported squadrons engaged on anti-shipping and U-boat patrols.

1943
The name of RAF St Mawgan was adopted on 24 February. From 1943 when the current runways had been built, to the end of the war, heavy long range American bombers transited through St Mawgan en route to all theatres of war.

1949
During 1949 and 1950 Plymouth and District Aero club adopted the Trebelzue end of St Mawgan for charter and pleasure.

1950
Fingland's Airways Ltd commenced a tourist route between Ringway and St Mawgan in June employing Ansons, however, the Air Ministry repossessed St Mawgan in 1951.

Fingland Aviation was formed in Manchester in September 1948 and in the spring of 1950 obtained an associate agreement with BEA permitting a tourist route to Newquay, connecting Ringway with St. Mawgan. This operation commenced on 24^th June using Ansons G-AKFM and G-ALFP, and ceased on 30 September. However, the Air Ministry was reluctant to back commercial use of St. Mawgan at that time, and proceeded to reinstate a military presence there during June 1951. Consequently Newquay Council was forced to seek an alternative airfield with which to fulfil tourist services for the coming 1951 season, and succeeded in de-requisitioning and re-licensing Perranporth within a period of four weeks. However Perranporth didn't really fit the bill in terms of its geographical proximity to Newquay and also its inadequate roadlinks. (p90)

In the autumn of 1950 Murray Chown Aviation - a Staverton based firm, had been granted a licence to run a commercial service between Staverton, Cardiff, Newquay and St.Mary's over the 1951 season, using Proctors. In the absence of access to St Mawgan for such activities Perrranporth was pushed into action via co-operation between Murray Chown and Newquay Council whereby the airline took over responsibility for the operation of the airfield from the council. (p91)

1951
Olley Air Service secured an associate agreement with British Eagle Aviation to for the 1951 season this agreement permitted a route linking Croydon, Bristol, Exeter, Newquay and Land's End however, the service terminated after one season.

The School of Maritime Reconnaissance began flying from the airfield in June.

1955
St Mawgan became a Master Diversion Airfield in November.

1959
In June of 1959 Starways opened a direct service between Liverpool and St Mawgan with their Skymaster G-APEZ. By this time the air Ministry had become more flexible regarding the use of St Mawgan for civil purposes resulting in the Starways flights operating every weekend over the summer period for the enjoyment of tourists. Starways broadened their portfolio of routes later in June with the addition of a flight between Liverpool, Exeter and St Mawgan flown each Saturday using a DC-3 G-AMPO. At St. Mawgan the handling of the Starways Aircraft was initially dealt with by RAF personnel on the understanding that Newquay Council would assume that responsibility as soon as possible.

1960
Starways developed their service in 1960, connecting St. Mawgan and Exeter with Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, using G-AMPO and G-AMSN, another DC_3. Later, services were provided connecting St. Mawgan with Leeds and London.

Overseas Airways' Heron visited St.Mawgan several times during the 1960 season.

1961
In March Mayflower Air Services was formed at Plymouth its first flight, to St Mary's was made on 13^th June .The company made successful inroads into the tourist trade and more routes were added, terminating at St Mary's from Bristol, Cardiff and Newquay.

1962
April - Exeter-based Westpoint Aviation opened its first scheduled service using DC-3 G-AMDB between Newquay, Exeter and Heathrow and saw an opportunity to expand across the Duchy with an acquisition proposal for Mayflower – this overture was declined but, in December Scillonian Air Services acquired Mayflower.

A portion of RAF St Mawgan became known as Newquay Airport (RAF St Mawgan) this year and a modest civil terminal was built.

1963
November – the newly renamed British Eagle International Airlines signed an agreement with Starways (in effect a take-over) under which they inherited a number of routes –including the summer services in Newquay.

1964
Summer-British Eagle International Airlines continue with flights as set out in November 1963.

British Westpoint continued the services to St Mary's from Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Newquay and Plymouth, whilst Exeter and Newquay provided onward links to Heathrow using the DC-3s.

1965
The 1965 season brought the introduction of the first flights by British Midland Airways between Castle Donington and Newquay, notably by DC3 G-ANTD.

1966
Scillonia commenced a service employing Rapides between Newquay, Land's end and St Mary's in June.

Over the summer months British Midland flew between Castle Donington and Newquay, again using DC-3s and also an Argonaut - which was later made redundant in favour of Viscounts.

July- by now British Eagle was using BAC 1-11s on its Newquay Route, the first commercial jets to operate there-these were resumed for the 1967 service.

1969
May-Dan-Air commenced a Gatwick – Newquay service, a route formerly operated by British Eagle which had ceased trading in November 1968, but using elderly DC-3s and Ambassadors rather than British Eagle's more attractive BAC One-Elevens and Viscounts. Unfortunately the route didn't perform as well as anticipated possibly owing to the nature of the aircraft used, and the service ceased after just one season of operation.

Westward Airways made their debut in July with their first aircraft, Islander G-AXFC, began a daily Newquay –Plymouth-Gatwick –Heathrow service, which saw the aircraft returning via Gatwick to Newquay for the night. During August a second Islander ('XHE) was acquired and a Gatwick –Plymouth-Newquay-St Mary's route was flown. Westward Airways had been formed at Newquay during late 1968 by Captain Howard Fry, an ex BOAC pilot their flights proved increasingly popular and by the end of the year passenger figures had risen to over 5000.

Westward continued operating these routes over the winter months thus becoming Newquay's first operator to do so. However, by the autumn of 1970 that company too had ceased trading.

1972
Brymon established a base at Newquay Airport in 1972. Over that summer British Midland operated a London-Newquay service using Viscounts.

1973
Brymon moved their centre of operations to Plymouth.

1974
Brymon introduced the de Havilland Canada DHC.6 Twin Otter.

1975
The first passenger terminal facility is erected by British Midland Airways

1977
January- Brymon took over the running of Newquay Airport. During this year Brymon carried over 25,000 passengers on its Newquay-London flight alone. Viscounts operations also grew at Newquay Airport as the 1970s drew to an end: Alidair, Guernsey Air Lines and Jersey European Air lines all ran services.

1981
August- Brymon accepted its first de Havilland Canada Dash 7.

1993
The "new" civil airport terminal opens (English Estates).

2000
The existing airport passenger terminal is extended with a single storey extension. A plane hangar for commercial use is erected and the existing car parking areas are extended and rationalised.

2006
The opening of the new extension to the existing passenger terminal building takes place – to include security and safety improvements, car park extension and airside pavement works.

2007
On the 1st April 2007 Cornwall Airport Limited assumes operational management of Newquay Cornwall Airport following the expiry of the current Serco contract.

Cornwall County Council received approval from the EU for the use of public sector funding to implement an investment package for Newquay Cornwall Airport this will provide the essential funding required transforming the airport from its current RAF use into a commercial passenger airport. An attractive new café and bar by the check-in concourse area opens, further enhancing the experience for departing travellers.

Newquay Cornwall Airport offered a record number of services to and from regional airports this summer. Including new Air Southwest flights to Cork, Newcastle and Glasgow and Flybe introducing direct flights to Belfast City.

2008
Brand new arrivals hall opened. This marks the 2nd stage of development in the last 2 years at the airport and is part of the airport's plans to increase the capacity of the terminal to meet a throughput of 700,000 passengers a year.

The draft Airport Masterplan is launched on 30 November 2008, setting out its long term vision for future development out to 2030.

The airport was granted a Licence by the Civil Aviation Authority on 20 December 2008.

Skybus began two new routes from Newquay Cornwall Airport flying to Cardiff and St Brieuc in Brittany, Ryanair began two new routes from Newquay Airport to Girona (Barcelona) and Alicante.

The airport also welcomes new flights to Dusseldorf with Lufthansa.

2009
Flybe announced a new non-stop London Gatwick route.London City flights begin with Air Southwest which adds a third London route from Newquay Cornwall Airport. Jet2.com airline are commence flights to Leeds/Bradford and Belfast.

The final Airport Masterplan is released following a 10 week public and stakeholder consultation.

The Airport receives a highly commented certificate in the 'Major Projects' category of the South West Civil Engineering project of the year awards (ICE).

The new Executive Lounge for business passengers is opened which marks a significant improvement in the facilities on offer to business passengers.

The 'Destination Cornwall' retail outlet opens offering a range of locally sourced produce.

Midwest Executive Aviation Limited Open Their New Fixed Based Operator Facility at the Airport. The new facility significantly enhances the private aviation handling facilities at the airport by taking the new facility into the airports controlled zone.

International disaster relief charity, ShelterBox sent 500 tents and ShelterBoxes to Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso – flying out from Newquay Cornwall Airport for the first time since the aerodrome transferred from MOD to Cornwall Council control.

2010
Forty tonnes of emergency aid was flown to Haiti from Newquay Cornwall Airport as ShelterBox's massive aid operation to the earthquake-stricken country continues.

Global helicopter giant AgustaWestland based its new helicopter training programme at Newquay Cornwall Airport. AgustaWestland Training Organisation (which is part of Westland Helicopters Ltd) will run the helicopter flight training programme for up to 50 students a year covering specific helicopter skills such as search and rescue and policing

Free Wi-Fi in the Airport Terminal went live on Friday 28 May 2010.

A General Aviation weekend was held to launch the General Aviation facilities that form part of the airport's wider strategy in growing the business across the entire aerodrome to maximise its potential and ultimately revenue.