Newquay Airport brings in �17m to the county's economy

All flying at RAF St Mawgan will end in April 2007 and the future of two air regiments based there is also in doubt.

It is also unclear what will happen to the county's main airport at Newquay which shares a runway with the base and uses its air traffic control staff.

MPs and business leaders said the closure of the base and airport would badly affect the county's economy.

'Huge implications'

The base near Newquay is to be mothballed for five years from 2007 pending a decision on the possible deployment of new combat aircraft in 2012. A total of 215 jobs will go.

The move was discussed in the House of Commons during a question by the North Cornwall MP Paul Tyler on Thursday.

Mr Tyler complained to the Leader of the House, Peter Hain, that the region's media and not local MPs were the first to hear the news.

He said: "Why should the local media be informed ahead of constituency members? Isn't that a discourtesy to the House as a whole."

Mr Hain apologised for the incident.

But even if the airfield is reopened in 2012, there are questions as to how it will affect commercial flights while not in military use.

BBC South West Business Correspondent Neil Gallacher said: "It has huge implications because this is Cornwall's only civil airport to speak of.

"Given how important air travel has become in recent years, if there was any threat to it, it would be a major blow to Cornwall's economy as a whole."

'Considerable future'

Last week, Cornwall County Council announced multi-million pound extension plans at Newquay.

Council Leader John Lobb said: "We have gone ahead with the plans with knowledge of making immense progress and doing a great deal to improve air links. We can see a considerable future for it."

The council said it was to press for an meeting with Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

Truro MP Matthew Taylor added that he believed commercial flights were vital to the area's economy, and Falmouth-Camborne MP Candy Atherton added she was convinced there would be job losses when flying stopped in 2007.

Conservative spokesman Ashley Crossley described the news as "a severe blow" and called for an urgent meeting with Geoff Hoon and an explanation from Ms Atherton as to how she could defend the government's decision.

The government said it was looking to see if civilian planes could still fly from Newquay Airport.