Cornwall’s main airport is to reopen for passenger flights on July 1 with airlines already taking bookings for flights.
As the UK starts to unlock following the Covid-19 contagion, bookings are now being received for an Aer Lingus service from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Dublin and other flights set for the same week include services to London, Faro, Dusseldorf and Alicante.
Newquay airport, which is owned by Cornwall Council, closed in late March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The aerodrome, however, remained open to support vital services including Cornwall Air Ambulance, HM Coastguard Search and Rescue and military operations.
The airport said staff would be redeployed throughout Cornwall where possible, to support the wider response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But now Cornwall Council is preparing to unlock the airstrip as other restrictions have been relaxed following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on May 10.
Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for transport, said: "The airport is a key part of the economy of Cornwall and whilst we anticipate passenger numbers and flights will be reduced significantly in the short-term some routes are vital to support residents and businesses alike.
"In addition to this news our new airport manager is due to start shortly with a focus on making Cornwall Airport (Newquay) the greenest airport in the country.”
Bookings can now be made for the Dublin flight on July 1 and it is also possible to book flights to London Heathrow with British Airways on July 2.
Cllr Brown said it was expected that BA would announce plans to restart flights from Newquay to Heathrow on Wednesday, May 20.
German low-cost airline Eurowings is taking bookings for flights to Dusseldorf on July 4 and Ireland’s Ryanair is selling seats to Faro, in Portugal, on the same date. Ryanair is also taking bookings for flights to Alicante, in Spain, on July 5.
While the airport has been closed for passenger flights it has had to continue to provide services for contractors such as Cobham Aviation and provide air traffic control and accept aircraft for maintenance and storage.
In the statement Cllr Brown added: "The current plan is for the airport to reopen on July 1, in order to meet the demand from airlines to recommence flights for the remainder of the summer period.
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"The requirements for transport operators is set out in the Government’s current covid-19 Safer Transport guidance.
“Cornwall Airport Limited are currently working on plans to ensure the airport complies with this guidance and to ensure the appropriate risk assessments are in place."
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However, there could be an issue for the airport from the Government’s proposed quarantine for air passengers coming into the UK.
Britain’s travel industry has warned a lengthy quarantine, speculated at 14 days, from abroad would be a “nightmare” which would damage a sector already in trouble due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister’s suggestion sparked alarm from the travel industry and aviation sector, while the farming industry, which faces a shortage of seasonal workers, will also be affected.
Employers’ groups also fear that other areas that rely on travel, such as professional services and education, will suffer severe disruption.
