Skybus customers contacted over Newquay flight changes

Customers booked to fly between Cornwall Airport Newquay and the Isles of Scilly are being contacted to rearrange their journeys after Skybus suspended flights on the route until the end of August.

The airline, operated by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, has written to affected passengers explaining that flights between Newquay and St Mary's have been suspended until 31 August because of operational challenges.

Passengers do not need to take any action immediately. The company says it will contact customers in date order to arrange alternative flights from Land's End Airport on the same date as their original booking.

To help minimise disruption, affected passengers will be offered complimentary parking at Land's End Airport, a refund of any fare difference between their original and revised flights, and a complimentary voucher to spend at the airport café.

In the letter, the company said the decision followed "a combination of a shortage of both aircraft and qualified pilots", which had significantly reduced its operational resilience.

It said it had explored every available option to maintain the Newquay service but could not operate the route reliably with its current fleet and crew availability.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group said concentrating most of its available aircraft and crews on services from Land's End would improve reliability and reduce the risk of further disruption during the busy summer season.

The company added that Skybus services between Exeter and St Mary's will continue to operate as normal.

Apologising for the disruption, the company said it remained committed to serving the Isles of Scilly and was working to strengthen its operation so it could provide the level of service passengers and the community expect.