OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2016. Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill visited Cornwall Airport Newquay today (11 February 2016) to see how government investment is helping the airport go from strength to strength. The minister toured the airport, which generates millions of pounds for the Cornish economy per year, and officially opened the Aerohub Business Park within the already established enterprise zone — Aerohub at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Passenger numbers at Cornwall Airport Newquay increased from 219,000 in 2014 to 252,000 last year. This is forecast to increase to 375,000 this year thanks to the introduction of new routes, including a Newquay to Leeds Bradford service funded by the government’s £7 million Regional Air Connectivity Fund. The government also provides financial support for the Newquay to London Gatwick service.

Following Cornwall Council’s announcement that it was removing the £5 airport development fee levy from 27 March, the airport has seen the introduction of a number of new routes for summer 2016 including Aberdeen, Doncaster, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Alicante, Frankfurt-Hahn as well as an increased schedule to Dublin. These are in addition to the existing routes, including year-round flights to Manchester and London Gatwick and daily direct flights between Newquay and the Isles of Scilly. Other existing routes include Birmingham, London Stansted, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Dusseldorf.

The airport’s success has been boosted by the Aerohub Enterprise Zone, launched in 2011, which has generated hundreds of jobs and attracted new businesses. The new business park , opened by the minister today, will accommodate over 2,000,000 ft² of hangar space, offices and manufacturing, and is expected to generate thousands jobs.

Robert Goodwill said:

The growth in new routes and passenger numbers at Cornwall Airport Newquay has been significant and it is great to see the positive benefits this is bringing to the local community. Our smaller airports are vital engines for local economies, connecting the UK and opening up opportunities.

The Aerohub has made a real difference to the local economy, generating hundreds of jobs and attracting new businesses and is a real success story for the government’s enterprise zones programme. The new business park I have officially opened will help deliver even more economic growth.

The Aerohub is led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and Cornwall Council as the owners of the airport and surrounding land. More than a dozen companies are located at the airport, including Apple Aviation, British International Helicopters and AgustaWestland. It is also home to the new search and rescue service run by Bristow Helicopters.

Businesses from all sectors can apply to locate to Aerohub. Incentives for locating include:

  • 100% business rate relief for 5 years
  • 2 local development orders in place which give fast track planning
  • access to superfast broadband