The UK’s Newquay Cornwall Airport was last night honoured with the prestigious ERA (European Regional Airline Association) Airport Achievement Award for 2009/10. The award was given in recognition of the Cornish airport’s remarkable achievements from April 2008 to March 2009.

2008 was a landmark year for Newquay Cornwall Airport and its owner, Cornwall Council. The Airport saw passenger numbers go up and the number of routes served from the Airport increase significantly, importantly the year saw the completion of the transition from a military operated airport to the most recently civil licensed aerodrome in the UK.

The transition project was highly complex and required significant new infrastructure to be built or upgraded to meet the Airports’ operating requirements. The works were all undertaken whilst the Airport continued to operate for both military and civil commercial aircraft.

Commercial activity at the Airport saw passenger numbers grow by 22% which made Newquay one of the fastest growing Airports in the UK and the 12th fastest growing Airport in Europe.

Accepting the ERA Airport Achievement Award 2009/10 attended by some 500 industry guests from all over Europe, Al Titterington, Newquay Cornwall Airport’s Operations Director said: “This endorsement, coming from the aviation industry, is extremely appreciated. The judges understand the airport business well and will appreciate the effort and dedication of all those at Newquay Cornwall Airport who worked so hard to make our transition from military to civilian airport such an outstanding success."

Congratulating Newquay Cornwall Airport on the win, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member, Cllr Carolyn Rule, whose Economic and regeneration Portfolio includes responsibility for Newquay Cornwall Airport, said: “This is excellent news for the Airport, the county and for the South West region. Newquay Cornwall Airport continues to go from strength to strength and this further underlines the significant contribution it is making to the growth of Cornwall’s economy. Our ability to develop the Airport sustainably was clearly recognised by the aviation industry and I’m delighted we are considered to be developing as a role model for other small regional airports in the UK and Europe to follow.”

The judging panel, comprising senior industry experts including past and present CEOs of European airlines, concluded that Newquay recorded the biggest single achievement of all the entrants this year, skillfully balancing the political handling of public bodies and authorities with the operational and regulatory requirements associated with obtaining CAA approval. It achieved this while maintaining a concern for the commercial requirements of its airlines and passenger customers and also managed to look to the future and develop an exemplary long term strategic Masterplan.

The 20 strong airport members of the European Regional Airline Association play a vital social and economic role for the regions they serve. ERA, now in its 30th year, recognises that regional airport development depends on nurturing and maintaining good relationships with intra-European airlines and the economic regions they serve.

The focus of the Airport Achievement Award, which in previous years has been won by Amsterdam Schiphol, Munich, Innsbruck, Frankfurt and London City Airports is on specific achievements that demonstrate a positive impact on intra-European air transport operations - at the same time encouraging excellence and industry best practice through the spirit of airline-airport partnerships. 

This winter, the Airport will offer 11 destinations throughout the UK, Ireland and the EU, operated by three airlines:
- Air Southwest: Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, London City Airport, Manchester, Newcastle, Grenoble
- Skybus: Isles of Scilly
- Flybe: London Gatwick
 
For summer 2010, Newquay Cornwall Airport already has 16 routes confirmed with 6 airlines:
- Air Southwest: Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, London City Airport, Manchester, Newcastle
- bmibaby: Manchester, East Midlands Airport
- Falcon Travel: Zurich charter
- Flybe: Edinburgh, London Gatwick
- Lufthansa: Dusseldorf 
- Skybus: Isles of Scilly
- Jet2.com: Belfast International
- Ryanair: tbc