Ryanair was to see 200,000 passengers at Newquay in 2005

The airline is halving its Stansted flights in protest at Cornwall County Council's �5 passenger surcharge.

Exeter-based Flybe says it is considering filling the gap with a new service from Newquay to London.

Newquay's biggest operator, Air Southwest, remains committed to the area while Dan Rogerson MP said he believed Ryanair and others would stay.

They haven't pulled out altogether Dan Rogerson, Liberal Democrat MP Airline halves Newquay flights

Ryanair's first flight into Newquay landed nearly three-and-a-half years ago. Since then, the budget airline has seen passenger numbers through Newquay grow from 80,000 to a predicted 200,000 for 2005.

But it is stopping its morning services to and from Stansted in protest at Cornwall County Council's plans to introducing a �5 departure tax to develop the airport and ease losses of more than �1m a year.

Other concerns for the council include the airport sharing a runway, plus air traffic control and emergency facilities, with the St Mawgan RAF base. The base is due to be mothballed in 2007.

Despite Ryanair's reaction to the levy, Air Southwest has reaffirmed its commitment to Newquay Airport.

Managing Director Malcolm Naylor said: "Obviously there's a question mark about the future but by the sounds of it the new development charge of �5 a passenger will actually resolve that issue so we're prepared to stay very committed to Newquay Airport."

Scaremongering thoughts

In March, Exeter-based Flybe shelved plans to fly from Newquay because of the uncertainty over its future.

But Flybe said it believed the Stansted link was a key route for the region and it was actively looking at filling the gap and to linking Newquay to other parts of its network.

North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP Dan Rogerson said: "Ryanair have taken the decision, where other airlines are happy to pay this charge, to scaremonger a little bit, I think.

"They haven't pulled out altogether. If they really had any doubt about the future of the airport, or the charge, they would have.

"And I am confident that more airlines will come because the airport has had good growth recently, and capacity to grow even further."