Against all odds: Skybus launches Newquay to London Gatwick route despite Blue Islands collapse
November 23, 2025
Isles of Scilly-based Skybus has announced that it will be expanding its wings to the Newquay to London Gatwick route, despite initially planning to use an aircraft leased from Blue Islands which ceased operations last week.
It has found an alternative. The new route will initially be operated by a wet-leased Boeing 737-800 from Ascend Airways, the carrier revealed on social media. Flights begin later today. It added that a Q400 with 78 seats will takeover the route as of 3 December.
The new route will operate under the Aurigny Air license, an airline based in Guernsey.
All aboard: Skybus’ new flights from Gatwick begin today
The Newquay to London Gatwick route is a designated Public Service Obligation (PSO) route. In other words, the connection is incentivised by the government as a link that “is socially and economically vital for the regions it serves.” The incentive can come in the form of a guaranteed monopoly ensured by the government, or through a subsidy arrangement.
Skybus is not operating the route on its own metal, though. It initially sought support from Blue Islands which was to provide a 70-seat ATR 72 aircraft. However, this fell through after the company ceased operations.
“Last Friday’s collapse of fellow regional airline Blue Islands, which was to deliver the route on our behalf, has led to a round-the-clock effort to secure alternative aircraft and crew together with securing the regulatory approvals needed to take over where they were due to pick up,” Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles said.
“I’m delighted, even if a little fatigued, to advise that this has been accomplished: flight times, baggage allowances and check-in arrangements are confirmed and will not change.”
Skybus will fly the route daily, alternating between morning and evening flights. The first service will depart Gatwick with the following flight times on Sunday.
| Route | Departure | Arrival | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| NQY → LGW | 15:40 | 17:00 | 1h 20m |
| LGW → NQY | 17:40 | 18:55 | 1h 15m |
Challenges sourcing aircraft began before Blue Islands’ collapse
When Skybus was first selected to launch the route, it had planned on using an ATR 72 from Blue Islands to operate the service in the interim. Thereafter, Cornwall Airport and Skybus had confirmed in a statement that they would switch to a “permanent Skybus-liveried ATR 72 aircraft” from mid-2026 leased from Aurigny Air Services.
However, Aurigny dismissed the claims that it would be providing aircraft to that effect. The company said that it had “not envisaged to entail the reallocation of Aurigny’s aircraft fleet or human resources” to aid Skybus in the launch.
Instead, it noted that it would help the carrier through ground handling services at London Gatwick. Aurigny Air already has staff at Gatwick on a permanent basis, serving its six daily flights to Guernsey.
“Skybus intends to participate in the tender process for the longer-term supply of the NQY PSO contract, and Aurigny will continue to support Skybus in these endeavours,” Aurigny continued.
Skybus says it is working on its summer 2026 schedule and hopes to launch sales on the Newquay to London Gatwick route shortly.
“It’s been one heck of a week. A week that I wouldn’t wish to repeat in any way, especially for friends at Blue Islands. Even so, it’s been a week of progress for Skybus which presages a bright future for our service to the community across Cornwall and beyond,” Hinkles continued.
Tough times for UK regional aviation
Skybus only decided to step into this PSO route within the last month. It was previously operated by Eastern Airways using an ATR 72, however the carrier declared bankruptcy and ceased operations at the end of October.
Skybus stepped in and applied to Cornwall Council in an expedited tender process to fill the void “ahead of a new four-year tender from Cornwall Council to begin in mid-2026.” As it scrambled for capacity, Skybus turned to Blue Islands for a short-term solution as it finalised a lease for what it expected to be an Aurigny ATR.
The Blue Islands solution did not pan out as the carrier tragically ceased operations last week. Fewer players in the UK regional aviation space points to continued operational and financial challenges, and notably difficulties in flying such routes with reasonable margins.
Skybus, a much smaller player, is to play a much bigger role as time goes by.
Featured image: Photofex | stock.adobe.com
