One of the UK’s smallest commercial airports provides the only air link from the UK mainland to the islands and there are just three routes available to book
The planes that operate from a tiny UK airport are so small that you can watch the pilot flying and you can even take your dog along for the ride. There are no hordes of weary holidaymakers queuing for hours or nearly missing flights because they’ve been busy buying up everything the many airport shops and Duty Free has to offer in one UK airport. And that’s all thanks to its diminutive size.
St Mary’s Airport is located one mile east of Hugh Town on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, which is to the south west of Cornwall. The archipelago is a beautiful group of uncrowded and unspoilt, subtropical islands which offer tourists stunning beaches as well as water sports, abundant wildlife and archaeological sites. They have even been dubbed the UK’s answer to the Maldives.
For those wishing to travel there, it’s just a 20 minute journey from Land’s End airport to St Mary’s, which is the only air link to the islands – although there is a heliport on the island of Tresco. The tiny airport was opened in 1939 and is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and is currently operated by the Council of the Isles of Scilly. There are two other routes available, operated by Skybus – the Isles of Scilly’s airline. From Newquay Airport it is a 30 minute flight to St Mary’s and from Exeter it’s an hour. As the islands are just 28 miles from Land’s End it’s possible to do a day trip via plane from Land’s End or Newquay, with eight hours of exploring time.
The airline’s 19 seater planes mean you get to meet the pilot and can see him at work flying in the cockpit. In what is a rarity these days, you even get a free luggage allowance and dogs are allowed to travel too!
The terminal at the airport is open all year round whilst the airport is in operation. It has a cafe with panoramic views across the harbour and the islands, toilets, as well as access to wheelchairs upon request. The airport is also used as a landing area for some emergency services such as the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Aircraft and the Cornwall Air Ambulance, as well as being the base for the Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service. There is also a footpath near the end of one of the two runways, which is closed by warning lights and bells every time an aircraft takes off or lands.
St. Mary’s airport is the third smallest commercial airport in the UK. In 2023 the airport handled 69,404 passengers aboard 8,849 planes, which was down from 86,846 passengers in 2022.
Have you ever flown to St Mary’s airport or visited the Isles of Scilly? Let us know in the comments below.
