A British airline has decided to halt flights on a popular tourist route temporarily. Skybus expressed regret over the suspension of flights between Exeter and St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly until June 4. The airline attributed this decision to a challenging start to the summer 2026 season.
The company clarified that delays in its winter maintenance program, extending into May due to storm damage in January, caused a backlog affecting services. This led to an aircraft shortage and delayed pilot training, impacting operations, according to Skybus Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles.
Once the temporary suspension is lifted, the airline assured that services will return to normal for the rest of the summer season. Affected passengers will have the option to re-book from Land’s End or Newquay and receive fare refunds or free car parking when re-booking from Exeter to Land’s End.
Hinkles stated that the temporary changes aim to bring stability to Skybus operations and expressed gratitude to customers for their patience. The airline plans to resume Exeter flights on June 4, apologizing for the disruption to the start of the summer season.
Prior to this, the airline had also canceled flights between Newquay and London Gatwick due to increased fuel costs post-Gulf war and a decline in bookings. This comes amid a surge in jet fuel prices leading to flight cancellations across the UK.
Aviation analytics indicated 120 out of 22,613 departures scheduled from UK airports in May were axed, representing 0.53%. The capacity for June has reduced by 7,972 seats with 36 fewer outbound flights compared to the previous week.
As the end of May is a peak holiday period, flight cancellations have affected global operations, with significant reductions in planned flights and capacity. Airlines are adapting by consolidating or canceling underperforming flights, aiming to maintain service quality for popular summer destinations.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, reassured travelers that departures to summer hotspots from the UK are not impacted. She encouraged customers to book confidently, emphasizing that services to favored destinations remain unaffected amidst global flight disruptions.