Newquay Airport Reports Busy April With Spitfire Visit and New Routes

A surprise visit from a British comedy legend, the return of a sun-soaked favourite, and a historic aircraft touching down on Cornish soil. April was no ordinary month at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Zürich route takes off

The airport welcomed back its Zürich service with Edelweiss, with flights ramping up to as many as three a week this summer. That’s a significant jump from just one weekly flight a few years ago, suggesting demand for the Swiss city link is climbing fast.

A Spitfire and a famous face

April also marked the 90th anniversary of the Spitfire, and the airport got to play host. The iconic British aircraft landed at Newquay as part of a UK-wide tour celebrating nine decades since it first took to the skies.

To make the occasion even more memorable, British actor Warwick Davis turned up to welcome the plane, catching plane spotters completely off guard.

Faro named Destination of the Month

Faro has been crowned the airport’s Destination of the Month after making a strong return to the Newquay route network for summer. The Algarve gateway offers golden beaches, dramatic cliffs, old towns and seafood that keeps drawing Cornish holidaymakers back.

The airport reckons Ryanair should consider making the route year-round, with the full Algarve guide available on their blog.

April by the numbers

The month saw 36,119 passengers pass through the terminal, with 1,759 air traffic movements recorded. Two iconic aircraft were handled, and the load factor to Faro hit 83%, showing just how popular the Portuguese route has become since its return.