Skybus has suspended its flight route between Newquay and St Mary’s Airport on the Scilly Isles until the end of summer, citing shortages of both aircraft and qualified pilots. Existing customers will be rerouted onto flights from Land’s End Airport on the same date.
Operational challenges cited
In an email to customers, Isles of Scilly Travel said the decision followed “a series of operational challenges” and admitted it would be “disappointing and frustrating, particularly for those who have already made travel plans.” The company stated it had explored “every available option” to keep the Newquay service running but would not be able to operate the route reliably throughout the remainder of the summer.
Skybus blamed limited crew, pilot staff and a shortage of planes for the suspension. Passengers booked to travel between Newquay and St Mary’s will instead be transferred to Skybus flights from Land’s End Airport on the same date.
Customer compensation and contact
Customers will be contacted in date order to arrange alternative travel. Affected passengers will also receive a voucher to spend at Land’s End Airport Cafe. Skybus apologised for the disruption, stating: “We recognise this news will be disappointing and frustrating, particularly for those who have already made travel plans, and we sincerely apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause.”
Background on shortages
The airline explained: “Over recent months, we have faced a combination of a shortage of both aircraft and qualified pilots which has significantly reduced our operational resilience. We have explored every available option to maintain the Newquay service, but with a limited fleet and crew availability, we would be unable to operate the route reliably throughout the remainder of the summer.”
The suspension affects a key transport link to the Scilly Isles, which relies heavily on air and sea connections. The move comes amid broader industry challenges, including pilot shortages and supply chain issues affecting aircraft availability.
