Skybus suspends Newquay to Isles of Scilly flights
BBCAn airline has stopped flights between two airports during the summer due to a shortage of aircraft and qualified pilots to run the service.
Skybus said its route between Cornwall Airport Newquay and St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly had been suspended until 31 August, with passengers on existing bookings transferred onto flights from Land's End.
The move follows a series of operational difficulties affecting services to the Isles of Scilly during one of the busiest periods of the year.
The company has apologised, saying it had explored "every available option" to keep the route running, but concluded it would be unable to operate the service reliably for the remainder of the summer.
Explaining the decision, Skybus said it had faced "a combination of a shortage of both aircraft and qualified pilots which has significantly reduced our operational resilience".
The airline, which is part of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said customers did not need to take any action immediately and would be contacted in date order with alternative flight time options.
Skybus said affected passengers would also be offered free parking at Land's End Airport, a refund of any fare difference between their original and revised flights, and a voucher to spend at the airport café.
The company added the decision had been taken to ensure it could provide "a dependable and sustainable service" and explained concentrating aircraft and crews at Land's End would improve reliability and reduce the risk of further disruption.
Skybus added its Exeter service would continue as normal and it was working to strengthen operations and improve resilience so it could deliver "the level of service our passengers and the community rightly expect".
The suspension of flights is the latest in a number of issues this year for Skybus.
Along with the storm damage, which the firm said delayed its aircraft maintenance plan, the airline announced on 1 April it had cancelled its daily Newquay to London flights.
It had been due to operate the flights until a Passenger Service Obligation contract with Cornwall Council and the government expired on 31 May.
