Plymouth City Council is expected to formally accept Sutton Harbour Group’s notice to close Plymouth Airport at a meeting on 23 August 2011, the BBC reports.

Sutton Harbour Group has suffered “significant losses in recent years” and a study by aviation experts Berkeley Hannover Consulting found there was “no economic rationale” to keep the airport open.

Air Southwest pulled out of the airport in July and the airport’s short runway restricts aircraft to 19- to 50-seat aircraft.

Air Southwest has announced it is to scrap all flights from Plymouth Airport and some Newquay routes too.

From 14 September, all Air Southwest flights from Plymouth will end, plus the airline’s services from Newquay to Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey and Manchester.

Newquay services to Aberdeen, Bristol, Cork, Dublin and Leeds Bradford will end on September 30.

Plymouth City Airport is to close by the end of the year.

The announcement was made today by the Sutton Harbour Group, the owner of subsidiary company Plymouth City Airport Limited.

The airport has been running at a loss for some time and the Board has decided there is no realistic prospect of trade improving in the near future.

Plymouth City Airport Limited holds a 150 year lease agreement for the airport and will retain the lease after the airport’s closure.

Air Southwest has resumed its popular Newquay and Plymouth to Cork flights.

The flights commenced on 15 March and will operate three times a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays – throughout the summer season.

Air Southwest has teamed up with Avis to offer a series of exclusive fly-drive offers in Cornwall and Devon.

With three-day packages from just £78 per person, including return flights, car hire, taxes, charges and baggage, and seven-day packages from just £127 per person, the offers will appeal to ‘staycationers’ across the UK who want a short break without it costing the earth.

Air Southwest flies to Plymouth Airport in Devon and Newquay Airport in Cornwall from a range of cities in the UK and Ireland including London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow, Bristol, Cork and Dublin, and from the Channel Islands to Plymouth.

Air Southwest has put together a range of carefully planned driving tours to help visitors make the most of their trip to the Westcountry, all of which are downloadable at www.airsouthwest.com/flydrive

Mike Coombes, Commercial Director at Air Southwest, said: “Cornwall and Devon have just been voted the top two holiday destinations in the UK at the British Travel Awards and these flydrive packages are aimed at that market.

“There’s a huge variety of things to see and do within a short drive of Plymouth and Newquay airports including spectacular scenery and some of the finest coastline in the UK.”

Nick Mountfield, Head of Marketing at Avis UK, said: “These are great fly-drive packages for Brits wanting to explore Devon and Cornwall and we’ve come up with some exciting itineraries for making the most of a trip to the Westcountry.”

Air Southwest and Avis have also teamed up with the stunning four-star Cornwall Hotel Spa and Estate to offer customers a 15% discount for a stay or visit up to December 23, 2011.

To compare Manchester airport car parking or search for bed and breakfast Falmouth Cornwall click on the links.

Air Southwest has teamed up with Jersey Tourism to launch a new campaign promoting Plymouth’s airlinks to the island.

In a co-branded campaign the airline and Jersey Tourism are highlighting just how easy it is to fly to the beautiful island.

Mike Coombes, Air Southwest commercial director, said: “With its beautiful beaches, fine restaurants and loads to see and do, Jersey is ideal for a relaxing short break or family holiday and with Air Southwest it’s less than an hour away from Plymouth.”

Mike Tait from Jersey Tourism added: “Convenience and value for money are great motivators for people deciding to take a holiday. Thanks to Air Southwest’s frequent and super value flights, the campaign will open people’s eyes to what a great leisure break Jersey can offer.”

Upcoming events in Jersey include concerts from Katherine Jenkins and Will Young, the Battle of Flowers Grand Day Parade – undoubtedly one of the most spectacular carnivals in Europe, Jersey Regatta, Autumn Walking Week and Tennerfest, offering six weeks of great meals from just £10.

Air Southwest has up to seven flights a week from Plymouth City Airport to Jersey starting from £49 including taxes, charges and baggage, and a flight time from just 45 minutes.

Air Southwest is increasing the number of flights between Plymouth and Guernsey to six a week from 28 March 2010..

Air Southwest Commercial Director Mike Coombes said: “With its spectacular coastline, stunning cliff top walks, low duty shopping, great food and no exchange rate to worry about, Guernsey really is a stunning great value destination.

“We’re increasing our flights from four to six in response to Guernsey’s growing popularity, giving Air Southwest customers even more choice whether travelling for business or pleasure.”

Chris Elliott, Director of Marketing and Tourism at VisitGuernsey said: “Air Southwest’s expansion of air services is great news for anyone planning a trip from Plymouth and with a flight time of just 40 minutes it’s never been easier to visit.”

Air Southwest is also increasing its flights between Plymouth and Jersey to seven days a week from March 28.

South West regional airline Air Southwest has launched the sale of Visitor Oyster cards on all its flights into London, giving customers quick and easy access to the capital’s public transport network.

Air Southwest is the first airline at London City Airport to offer the cards, and is also launching Oyster cards on its four times daily Gatwick Airport service from Plymouth and Newquay.

Following a deal with Transport for London, customers can buy a Visitor Oyster card for just £22, which includes £20 of travel credit.

Oyster is an electronic transport smartcard which enables passengers to pay for journeys on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses, Tramlink, London Overground, Thames Clippers river services and on all National Rail services in Greater London.

Mike Coombes, commercial director at Air Southwest, said: “This is all about giving Air Southwest customers from Plymouth and Newquay hassle-free travel in London, whether they are flying to London City Airport or Gatwick, without having to buy tickets.”

Customers arriving at London City Airport can board the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which puts them within minutes of the City or Canary Wharf.

Thanks to the DLR, more passengers leave London City Airport by public transport than any other airport in the country, and Air Southwest’s Oyster initiative has been applauded for improving access to the transport network.

Giles Bailey, Head of Group Marketing Strategy and Integration for Transport for London, said: “This is our first partnership into London City and we’re delighted to be working with Air Southwest on promoting the Visitor Oyster card as a quick and easy way of accessing London’s public transport network.”

Richard Gooding, Chief Executive of London City Airport said: “This is a great partnership that we hope to see repeated on other scheduled services into London City. The airport is committed to giving passengers the smoothest journey possible and this will add to that.”

The snow is affecting operations at several UK airports. Currently, the following airports have suspended flights:

• Blackpool – the BBC has just reported that the airport has closed
• Bristol – closed until 12:00
• Cardiff – closed until 1000
• Exeter
• Gatwick
• Plymouth
• Robin Hood

Air Southwest has announced an adjustment to the departure times for its morning flight to London City airport from Newquay and Plymouth airports.

The earlier departure time for the service, which starts on 20 April, is designed to give business passengers a longer working day in the city.

For more London City Airport information and to book London City airport parking and London City airport hotels click on the links.