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Regional carriers launch rival flights on ex-Flybe Cornish route

Eastern Airways and Loganair are to compete with rival services on a former Flybe route between Manchester and Newquay.

Year-round flights will be introduced by Eastern on October 23 to coincide with the start of school half-term, while Loganair plans to enter the route from March 28 next year.

Scottish carrier Loganair had hoped its service would gain government subsidy support but is going ahead with daily flights in any case.

Eastern’s fares start at £79.99 while Loganair is charging from £59.99 one-way.

The Eastern service is the third connection from Cornwall following the introduction of links from Leeds-Bradford and Teesside which have been extended to year-round operations.

Loganair is to deploy a 70-seat ATR72-600 turboprop to give a flight time of 80 minutes while Eastern’s flights will take “just over an hour” against a road or rail journey of almost seven hours.

Eastern Airways’ commercial and operations general manager Roger Hage said: “We have carefully one-by-one added former Flybe routes that we know are sustainable and where local support is positive and strong.

“The addition of Manchester compliments our Leeds-Bradford and Teesside services and ensures the north of England as a whole is now served by extensively by Eastern Airways from Newquay.

“The frequency and capacity will increase as demand dictates and especially as travel volumes return through into summer next year.”

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles (pictured) said: “We’re pleased to be adding another route to our networks at both Newquay and Manchester.

“We’ve been working closely with Cornwall airport Newquay to restore UK regional connectivity following the collapse of Flybe earlier this year.

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