Flights from Cornwall Newquay to Switzerland set to increase

Swiss airline Edelweiss is planning to add an extra rotation to Zurich Airport over the summer season

Flights from Cornwall to Switzerland are set to increase this summer after Swiss airline Edelweiss announced changes to its Newquay to Zurich schedule.

The carrier has confirmed it will run an extra Friday rotation between Cornwall Airport Newquay and Zurich Airport across the peak summer period.

The route, which currently runs Wednesdays and Sundays each week, will operate three times a week between July 3 and August 21. The extra flight rotation brings the Zürich-Newquay route to its highest frequency since launch.

Cornwall Airport said having flights on Fridays would allow business travellers an end-of-week return option, allowing for shorter outbound trips without the need to extend stays due to limited flight windows.

Nigel Scott, commercial director of Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “This is a very positive development for Cornwall Airport Newquay and a clear endorsement of the Zurich route’s performance within the Edelweiss network.

“The increased frequency during peak summer reflects strong demand for Cornwall and the success of our partnership in developing the route.

“Additional capacity will support inbound tourism, enhance connectivity via Zurich and provide greater flexibility for passengers. We look forward to building on this momentum with Edelweiss in the seasons ahead.”

The news comes just weeks after Cornish carrier Skybus cancelled all future flights between Newquay and London. The airline had been operating the daily route from the county to the capital under a public service obligation after previous operator Eastern Airways collapsed.

The agreement, which was funded by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, was scheduled to run until the end of May, but the last flight took place on Thursday, April 2.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, services will now cease earlier than planned,” Skybus wrote in a statement on its website.

“Customers with bookings for travel throughout April and May are being contacted directly. All affected customers are entitled to a full refund, which will be processed back to the original method of payment.

“We sincerely apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause and appreciate your understanding.”

Skybus boss Jonathan Hinkles blamed the “huge rise” in fuel costs following the conflict in the Middle East as well as sharp fall in passenger numbers for the cancellation of the route.