The owners of Plymouth City Airport are starting the airline

The owners of Plymouth City Airport say they are in advanced talks with BA to ensure the region still has flights from Plymouth and Newquay.

Air Wales had previously expressed a keen interest in running the route, but plans for a new airline based at Plymouth have been announced.

Sutton Harbour Holdings, which owns Plymouth Airport, intends to set up Air Southwest in the hope of saving the London link.

Slots secured

Malcolm Naylor of Sutton Harbour Holdings, the former managing director of Brymon Airways, which used to operate the Gatwick route, said: "Air Southwest will be an airline based in Plymouth, creating jobs for the region, and offering a range of services for the region.

"Those slots will then be secured by us for the long-term benefit of the South West."

In a statement, BA said: "We are aware there are a number of parties interested in taking over the routes.

"For the moment, we are just pursuing discussions with Air Southwest."

Sutton Harbour Holdings says a final decision will be reached in a few weeks.

It will then set about acquiring a new fleet of planes for the airline, and be ready to take over from BA on 27 October.

BA is stopping its South West flights in October

BA confirmed earlier in the month it would stop operating on the routes on 30 October.

Business leaders in Devon said the loss of the flights with Gatwick would lose the region millions of pounds in potential investment.

However, they now say they are relieved that something is being done to ensure they continue.

The Chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, Tim Jones, said it was also good news that it is a local company planning to take over the link.