Ryanair cut Newquay flights

Ryanair are to cut the number of flights into Newquay Airport from Stansted in protest at the Cornwall council's new passenger surcharge.

The airline says it will drop 12 flights a week to the southwest claiming the £5 per person charge is an ‘anti-visitor’ tax.

Cornwall County Council say the charge is necessary to help them fund a £2.8m expansion programme at Newquay airport to improve facilities for passengers.

But Ryanair say that the cheap flight sector is so competitive that there will be an inevitable fall in demand and say the council’s move is misguided.

Michael Cawley, deputy CEO of Ryanair, said: “Cornwall County Council’s ridiculous decision to introduce a £5 tax per departing passenger would result in increased revenue of £250,000 for the Council.

“But a reduced income for the region of £10.5M leaving Cornwall worse off to the effect of £10M per annum in terms of expenditure by visitors brought by Ryanair from London.”

Council leaders say that the expansion of the airport from handling 118,000 passengers in 2002 to a predicted 334,000 for 2005 means improvements need to be made.

“Newquay Airport is essential for the future economic prosperity of the county,” said Andrew Mitchell, of Cornwall County Council.

“The decision to introduce an airport development fee has been tough, but Cornwall County Council feels that this is essential in ensuring the future viability of the airport.”

The £5 fee will be introduced on October 29 and Ryanair has said it will keep the situation under review, threatening to cut more flights if demand falls.

Comments

[luke norman]

I have allways flown to stansted on ryanair from newquay on the morning flights proberly once a month,I then get a conecting flight at 11 aclock, if i was to go on the night flight i would have to spend the night in the AIRPORT FOR THE FOLLOWING FLIGHT IN THE MORNING from stansted to denmark where i see my dad because he lives there, it was great and so easy.Now i am lucky to see him 4 times a year due to ryanair pulling out on the morning flights 5 pond per head is fine to me and i have asked every one else who fly wid ryanair and the say they are prepered to pay the extra cost aswell,ryanair are so cheap when booked in edvanced anyway so whats an extra fiver come on ryanair bring back the morning flights not just for me for all your passengers cheers luke norman (19 years old)

[Mr. G. Trautner. Airport Security]

Typical Ryanair response. They need to be reminded that airlines come and go and they are no different. Sooner or later everything is replaced, including Newquay Airport, which needs the extra money for business expansion. Ryanair should consider the Newquay future because the Newquay future could be the Ryanair future...

[charlie cooper]

I recently used Ryanair services to Newquay Airport, and was surprised when I checked in for a return flight to be informed of the £5 airport development fund fee. I had not heard anything of this charge when I flew out of Stansted or when I arrived at Newquay. Not only was I unhappy about the charge, the inconvenience of obtaining the ticket, along with 190 other passengers, was nothing short of organised chaos. While waiting in line to obtain a ticket, people were being called to the security office for random bag checks, and because Ryanair now charge £7 per checked luggage and can't take the money at the check-in desk, had to queue at another desk. All this while holding trousers up (because belts had to be removed), carrying jacket, tickets and shoes! What's going on! There were a lot of disgruntled passengers that night.

[sandra steliga]

I am more than happy to pay a £5 fee if that means I don't have to sleep at the airport to catch my connection flight. If Ryanair had considered this issue more carefully they would have found that other passengers are too and that passenger numbers wouldn't have been affected to an extent where flights need to be cut down. They certainly must have an internal management problem judging on their decision-making on this matter.

[Stuart]

You can't go randomly charging extra compulsory fees. It is simply not fair, and that feeling of being mugged by someone who had power over you is why it makes us so mad.

Stupid thing for the council to do. It's not about the money, it's being asked for something for nothing with no choice.

There are many beautiful places to visit. I will simply not come to Cornwall because of the small-time attitude of a council that would think it is ok to steal my money.

If you want to generate revenue, provide services people want to pay for (wifi could be a start) like everybody else in business has to do.