Air Southwest adds new flights to network

Low-cost airline Air Southwest has launched new Air Southwest flights from Plymouth and Newquay airports, in a major expansion of its regional network.

Air Southwest now offers passengers a choice of flights from Plymouth to Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin and Cork and later this year will begin a winter service to Chambéry, gateway to the French Alps.

Newquay Airport will also offer Air Southwest flights to Glasgow, Newcastle and again later this year a link to Chambéry, with an increased service to Cork following a successful summer-only service last year.

At Newcastle Airport they welcomed the first Air Southwest by rolling out the mini bowling green for Plymouth’s most famous historical figure, a lookalike Sir Francis Drake.

Chris Sanders, of Newcastle Airport, said: "Today’s launch of new flights with Air Southwest is a real endorsement of our services at Newcastle Airport. The south west offers so much for people living in the north east and forging connections between the two regions will become much easier with these air links."

The South West of England was the most popular English region for an overnight trip in 2006, attracting more than 20 million overnight stays worth £3.7bn to the local economy.

© Cheapflights Ltd Craig McGinty