A CLAIM that Cornwall Council gave the now scrapped Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service from Newquay airport to London Gatwick “with no democratic scrutiny” to a local company with “no licence, no planes and no pilots” has been shot down in flames.

The service – which was funded by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport – was operated by Cornwall’s Skybus since the previous operator Eastern Airways went bust last November.

An interim tender, which was due to end on May 31, was awarded to Cornwall’s Skybus, but ended earlier than expected last month after Cornwall Council agreed to scrap the service in February.

The council failed to attract tenders to continue the PSO during two procurement bids. It is now favouring seeking a commercial link, preferably to London City airport.

Peter Elliott, of Truro, tabled a public question about the issue at a meeting of Cornwall Council’s cabinet this morning (Wednesday, May 6). Mr Elliott has been a longtime critic of the way Newquay airport is run and has previously been labelled as “vexatious” by the council.

He asked: “Why did Cornwall Council, with no democratic scrutiny, give the loss making Isles of Scilly Skybus Ltd circa £2.1-million of taxpayers’ money, to fly the Newquay to Gatwick PSO route, when it had no CAA licence, no planes and no pilots to fly the now failed PSO route?”

Skybus had to use leased aircraft to provide the service when it took over the route.

Cllr Tim Dwelly, the cabinet member for economic regeneration and investment, responded. It soon became clear that Skybus had the necessary licence and all other approvals in place to fly the route.

He said: “Cornwall Council’s role was to run a formal open tender process for the Newquay to London PSO route. As part of that process all bidding operators were required to confirm that they complied with all relevant safety and operational standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other applicable regulators, and they had the ability to deliver the service.

“Compliance is demonstrated by an operator and, where applicable, its approved sub-contractors, holding and maintaining the required CAA approvals, including an Air Operator’s Certificate and associated regulatory approvals.

“An operator that does not meet those standards cannot lawfully operate.

“Confirmation of compliance with these requirements was provided as part of the tender process and reflected in the subsequent contract awarded to Skybus Ltd.

“Cornwall Council does not issue aviation licences, approve aircraft or license pilots. A funding decision by the council does not authorise aircraft to fly. Whether an airline may operate flights is a matter entirely for the CAA.

“For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the council will not comment on the financial position or internal operational arrangements of individual operators.”

We asked Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Isles of Scilly Skybus, for his response to the question.

He told us: “Isles of Scilly Skybus Ltd holds an Air Operator’s Certificate and an Operating Licence issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

“Given the tight timescales involved in the interim PSO operation, it was always our plan to deploy leased aircraft to begin services in the short-term: there was simply no other practical way in which the route could have been delivered. This was clear to all parties and also approved by the CAA where required.

“The leased aircraft would have been replaced by a long-term aircraft had Skybus been selected as long-term operator of the PSO through a further competitive tender. In light of the council’s decision to discontinue funding the route, those plans have now been disbanded.”