Rising jet fuel prices add £10,000 to Cornwall Air Ambulance monthly bill

The cost of keeping Cornwall’s lifesaving helicopters in the sky has soared, and the charity behind them is now turning to the public for help.

Cornwall Air Ambulance has launched a public appeal as rising jet fuel prices put increasing pressure on its ability to deliver emergency care across the region. The charity, which flies around 1,000 missions a year, is now spending an extra £10,000 every month on fuel alone.

A single refuel has doubled in price

The numbers tell the story. A single refuel at Newquay Airport, where the charity is based, has jumped from roughly £1,500 to £3,000. That sharp climb reflects the wider volatility in fuel prices affecting operators across the country.

Helicopters are thirsty machines at the best of times. Each mission burns through between 250 and 500 litres of fuel an hour, with the exact figure depending on where the crew is heading and what the weather is doing. Multiply that across hundreds of missions a year and the financial picture becomes clear.

Pressure beyond the airfield

It is not only aviation fuel piling on the costs. The charity is also paying around £1,000 more each month to keep donation collections and shop deliveries running, both of which feed directly into the funds used for emergency missions.

Tim Bunting, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Like many organisations and households, we are feeling the impact of rising fuel costs. Each mission we undertake is vital, but it comes at a growing financial cost. While we need additional financial support, we are also deeply aware that the people and communities who support us are facing the same pressures. We are incredibly grateful for their continued generosity during such challenging times.”

How the service operates

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust runs the helicopter emergency medical service for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with specialist paramedics on duty 19 hours a day, 365 days a year. The crew operates two AW169 helicopters and two rapid response vehicles, reaching scenes across mainland Cornwall in an average of 12 minutes, and the Isles of Scilly in under 30 minutes.

Running the charity costs more than £9m a year. There is no direct government funding towards those running costs, so the service depends on donations from people, communities and businesses across Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and further afield.

How to help

The charity is asking the public, businesses and supporters to help close the funding gap so missions can continue without interruption. Donations can be made at the Cornwall Air Ambulance donation page.

Every contribution, whatever the size, helps keep the helicopters flying.