A UK airline has announced the cancellation of flights from a major UK airport to a holiday hotspot due to rising fuel costs and a drop in passenger numbers. All Skybus flights between Cornwall and London have been cancelled from Friday April 3 with the last flight operating today, April 2.

The airline has been operating the daily Newquay to London flights under a public service obligation funded by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport since November 23, 2025 after the previous operator, Eastern Airways, went bust. This was scheduled to end on May 31, however, the service is being pulled almost two months early.

Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles attributed the service’s closure to the “global rise in fuel costs following the Gulf conflict,” combined with a sharp drop in passenger numbers.

The airline said passengers due to fly on cancelled services would be fully refunded.

Mr Hinkles said: “The huge rise in the global cost of fuel following the conflict in the Gulf, coupled with a significant drop in new passenger bookings since mid-February’s announcement of the planned closure of the PSO air route, forms an insurmountable barrier to the service continuing through April and May.

“At a time of great economic uncertainty and steps being taken to conserve energy worldwide, it is neither environmentally nor economically sound for us to continue flying with vastly reduced passenger numbers.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those who have supported us – whether as passengers, as local stakeholders or as team members delivering service to our customers – through our recent months of Cornwall-London air service provision.”

In an earlier statement, Skybus said: “In view of circumstances beyond our control, Skybus has advised Cornwall Council that services will now cease at an earlier date. The final services in each direction will take place on Thursday, 2 April 2026.

“We are therefore contacting all customers with bookings throughout April and May to advise that flights will no longer take place as planned.”

Cornwall’s Skybus has previously struggled to secure aircraft of the right size for the route and experienced only 20% seat occupancy.

Cornwall Council is now searching for a commercial connection, ideally to London City Airport.