Budget airline easyJetwill launch a new seasonal summer route to an airport a stone's throw from some of the UK's most beautiful beaches.

The new route, connecting London Gatwick with Newquay, will allow passengers to skip the traffic and enjoy stunning Cornish beaches in just over an hour.

Newquay is famous for its golden sand beaches and is a surfers' paradise. At Fistral Beach you'll often see surfers taking lessons and heading into the waves on their boards, and the beachis busy in the summer thanks to its wide expanse of soft sand. There are also smaller bays such as Tolcarne Beach that are surrounded by cliffs and have the perfect waves for body boarding.

On the outskirts of town is Porth Beach, a spot sheltered by two headlands which means the beach has relatively calm waters compared to nearby coastal spots. From May to September it has lifeguard patrols, and its selection of charmingly old-fashioned cafés and ice cream shops just steps from the sand make it popular with families in the summer.

From June 23, the route will be covered by easyJet, with bookings currently open until August 29. Tickets start from £30.99 one way, and will operate which a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the busy summer season.

However, the route has generated some controversy due to the environmental impact. According to the Trainline'scalculator, a train from London Paddington to Newquay emits 15.4kg of carbon, while the same journey by car uses 47.5kg, and a flight taken on a similar distance would emit 119.5kg of CO2. A train journey would therefore cause 87% less carbon emissions.

The flightwill be a faster and cheaper option than the train, which could make it popular with business travellers and those on short breaks. An easyJet flight on July 28 would cost £41.99 one way with no luggage and take one hour 15 minutes. However, it's worth remembering that you'll need to arrive at the airport 90 minutes to two hours before your flight to check in.

By contrast, the train takes five hours 24 minutes if the direct route is chosen and prices start at £82 for a single fare. You won't need to pay luggage fares when travelling by train.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet UK Country Manager, said: “We are delighted to be launching flights from London Gatwick to Newquay this summer, providing even greater connectivity for customers in London and the South East wishing to explore Cornwall."

While Nigel Scott, Commercial Director, Cornwall Airport Newquay, said in a statement: “We’re very pleased to welcome this new London Gatwick service with easyJet for the peak summer season. Demand for Cornwall continues to grow, particularly from the South East, and this route provides an affordable and convenient way for visitors to access the region during one of our busiest periods."

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The news comes after Skybus services funded by Cornwall Council were axed. BBC News reported that Skybus, which was due to continue the route until May 31 under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), has confirmed that its last flight will operate out of the Cornish airport this week. Managing director Jonathan Hinkles said this was due to rising fuel costs and a "significant drop" in bookings. The airline confirmed that passengers with existing bookings will be fully refunded.

CornwallLive previously revealed that Skybus flights have been operating at just 20% capacity, and pointed out that the PSO route is funded by the Department of Transport (DfT) and Cornwall Council via Cornish taxpayers.

Newquay Airport handled over over 407,609 passengers in 2024 alone, and has a range of routes from airlines including Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Ryanair currently offer a year-round service between Newquay and London-Stansted, while easyJet already have a presence at the airport with a seasonal Manchester route. International destinations include Malaga, Alicante, and Faro.

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