Ryanair has pulled out of their Newquay flights to Alicante

We have just heard that Ryanair are pulling out of Newquay Cornwall. There have been Newquay to Alicante flights during the summer months since 2005. Ryanair blame the "continued imposition" of the £5 charge per departing passenger, imposed by Cornwall Council.

This is a real blow to people in Cornwall where alternatives are as far as Bristol for Ryanair or Easyjet, or Exeter for Flybe. We are not as fortunate as people living in the Midlands or South East who have much more choice of who they wish to travel with and which airport to fly from. Just to add to the problems, Air South West have recently pulled their flights from Newquay to London making it even harder for Cornish travellers.

We have a place in Almoradi, Cost Blanca, not far from Alicante Airport and, being retired, means thatfuture long stays in Spain will cost a fortune in airport parking while more regular short stays will cost in air fares.

The Newquay service seemed to be well used and I'm sure it will affect a lot of people. If anyone is affected by this loss of service I'd be happy to hear their comments.

Ken

It strikes me that Ryanair's CEO Micheal O'leary struggles with Irony.

Ryanair  impose a £12 fee for online check in and a £10 fee for processing payment ... from clients using a debit card.  Both of which are vastly higher than there actual cost.

They say the council's fee is unfair...maybe it is, but it's certainly cheaper (including the council fee) and more convenient to fly from Newquay than flying from Exeter or Bristol if you live in Cornwall. The council have to get the cash from somewhere to develop the airport. It could be argued that those who use the airport should pay for it's development.

Why does Ryanair think it can dictate to Restormel borough council, whether or not the set a tax for airport development?

The argument that the charge discourages passengers is false, because the alternative is more expensive.

They pulled out of Murcia as well, stating lack of investment by the regional authority.

It's just the Ryanair PR machine putting a spin on the fact that the route isn't profitable.

Ryanair's counter argument might be that they do bring £££ in tourist money to the local area, and if one airport starts charging a departure tax others might follow.

What's the point in developing the airport if the airlines pull out?

Despite what M.O'L says Ryanair are struggling and will use any excuse possible to abandon routes that do not make good profits. Newquay, Doncaster / Sheffield / Durham Tees Valley, Bournemouth (winter flights), all cancelled on one pretext or another.

Some might call it good business practice; personally I call it greed. He wanted 11million Euros to stay in Murcia, 10 million to stay in Salamanca, god knows how many millions to stay in Granada and when the local authoritiy said No he just pulled the flights.

The guy is a Vaquero, a cowboy. He is to air travel what Stagecoach is to bus travel in the UK. He is the guy who will do the impossible and squeeze blood out of a stone.

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