Newquay Cornwall Airport held a business briefing event on Friday to explain the importance of the facility to the county’s economy.
Business leaders heard from the airport’s MD Al Titterington, as well as VisitCornwall chief Malcolm Bell and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chairman Chris Pomfret.
Titterington said the airport was integral to Cornwall’s future success. He said: “370 jobs are generated by the airport’s activities, and the airport itself contributes over £20 million of Gross Value Added to the Cornish economy.”
Recent figures showed that passenger numbers passing through Newquay dipped in 2011, but Titterington was bullish on the airport’s future.
“Looking forward,” he said, “our role is to create sustainable partnerships with existing and new airlines, extending links across domestic and international markets.
“In a difficult economic environment the airport is working hard to secure not only new air services but also inward investment at the airport through the aerospace sector. The airport is integral to ensure our business and leisure market expand.”
Pomfret spoke of the importance of the Enterprise Zone at the airport. And he said: “The central priority for Cornwall is economic growth. In order to achieve this we have to recognise we live in a global economy and this gives us huge impetuous to build new markets, serviced from Cornwall.
“To do this requires connectivity and in a global context the existence of an airport with direct links to international airports – Gatwick and Manchester – is essential.”
