Land's End, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Land's End Airport is owned and run by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group. There are commercial flying activities available such as Aerial photography and charter work can also be arranged. You'll never have experienced another airport like Land's End. From the ample parking to the warm, relaxed welcome when you check in, flying has never been so easy.
10 features verified at Land's End Airport
Typical foot-traffic by hour, sourced from Google. Live conditions may differ.
Busiest on Mondays around 9 am — usually as busy as it gets.
Wasn't looking forward to flying in such a small plane when I'm used to big planes but I'm now a convert. No rush, very friendly and helpful staff. Clean and spacious facilities. Such a welcome change compared to the major airports.
I would have liked to give this venue 5 stars as the staff were very helpful, my black coffee was fine, but my friend was disappointed with her coffee as it was too milky. It failed for me being a disabled user. Although once inside the facilities are good, disabled toilet etc. It was outside where I had issues. There is a one way system for cars which passes the main entrance. This is on the left-hand side. On the right-hand side there are some 10 minute dropping-off spaces. These would have been fine except there's a steep bank on the right-hand side to act as a barrier between the airport and the main road. If I were a passenger getting out of left-hand side of the car, that would have been fine as road markings show a virtual path for passengers to get to the airport entrance. There is no space or path shown on the right-hand side. As I was the driver of the car I needed to get out and get access to my walking frame which was in the foot well in the back seat. The bank was in the way. In this situation, I could have just turned the car round and parked so my side was by the path, but being a one way street this was not possible. If there were a couple of spaces on the left-hand side for dropping-off, that might have helped. Perhaps I should have used the main car park. The first hour is free. I only wanted to stop for the cafe and watch the aeroplanes, but there are two car parks, both quite a distance from the main entrance. It was unclear which car park to use. Once inside the terminal I discovered you could extend your car parking time if going to the cafe by entering your registration number. This needs to be made clearly with signs that can be read without the use of binoculars. I will visit the airport again to see if any improvements have been made as it was where I had my first flying lesson in 1996. They only had grass runways then. :)
The flight was cancelled. We were made to believe we would be able to go by ferry if flying was not an option. After travelling an hour to get to the airport and getting up at 5 am to go, they told us we would have to rebook but they couldn't do it there. We then had to phone another number 2 hours later to be told there was no availability on either plane or ferry for the whole week. I had two very tired and disappointed kids. Bad communication and very frustrating.
Great meal in the cafe and watched a flight take off
Land's End Airport sits on the southwest tip of mainland Britain, three kilometres west of Britain's most westerly mainland town, Penzance. It operates as the primary stepping stone for passengers travelling between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, handling around 30,000 passengers per year on a single asphalt runway 800 metres long. The airport is not open every day of the week, and services are heavily seasonal, shaped by tides of tourism and the Atlantic weather.
The airport's role is mostly defined by one route: the Skybus flight to St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, a 15-minute hop across open sea. The operation is small and functional—a single-storey terminal with a cafe, check-in desks, and a gate area that feels more like a bus station than an airport. Most passengers arrive by taxi or car, park in the modest car park, and walk straight into the terminal. There is no jet bridge, no passenger lifting bridge, and no airside shopping. What there is, however, is consistency. The Land's End–Scilly route has been running for decades, and the people who work here know exactly what the weather is doing and whether the flight will go.
Land's End Airport is five kilometres from Penzance railway station and four kilometres from the town centre. The journey by taxi takes about 10 minutes and costs roughly £10-15. The local bus service (number 17A or 17B) runs from Penzance station to the airport stop, taking about 15 minutes, but services are limited, especially on Sundays and public holidays. The bus drops passengers at the end of the airport access road, a short walk to the terminal.
Drivers take the A30 towards Land's End and then follow the brown tourist signs for ‘Land's End Airport’. The car park is directly outside the terminal building and costs £5 per day. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. Bicycle parking is also available.
For those staying in Penzance or nearby holiday parks, many accommodation providers offer a pick-up and drop-off service by pre-arrangement. The airport is small enough that walking from the car park to the gate takes less than two minutes.
The terminal building is a single room that serves as check-in area, departure lounge, and arrivals hall. On busy summer mornings, the space can feel full, but it remains calm because the flight schedule rarely sees more than two aircraft movements at a time. The cafe, called The Runway Cafe, serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, and pasties. It has indoor and outdoor seating, and the outside tables overlook the runway, offering a direct view of takeoffs and landings for the Isles of Scilly flight.
Wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park, toilet, and seating are all available. Wheelchair rental can be arranged by calling ahead. A changing table is located in the accessible toilet. Baggage storage is available for a small fee, useful for passengers who want to explore Penzance before their return flight. Wi-Fi is free and reliable enough for emails and browsing.
The atmosphere is friendly and informal. Staff often know frequent flyers by name. Check-in opens about an hour before departure and baggage is weighed and labelled by hand. Security screening is minimal because flights do not require airside security in the usual sense; passengers walk across the ramp to board the aircraft. There are no gates, no boarding passes scanned at the aircraft door, and no duty-free shops.
Penzance is a town of roughly 21,000 people, historical market town, ferry port, and tourist base for exploring West Cornwall. The airport's existence is directly linked to the need for a quick, reliable connection to the Isles of Scilly, but for many visitors, Penzance itself is the start of a longer trip along the South West Coast Path or into the landscape of granite churches, moorland, and fishing coves.
The town's geography is dramatic. It faces Mount's Bay, with St Michael's Mount rising from the water just offshore. The causeway to the mount is walkable at low tide. The town centre has a mix of Regency terrace houses, narrow alleys, and independent shops. The Jubilee Pool, a lido built in 1935, is heated by geothermal water and open through summer. Penzance also houses the National Trust property of Trengwainton Garden and the historic Egyptian House on Chapel Street.
Most passengers using Land's End Airport are heading to the Isles of Scilly, but some are taking scenic flights or flying to destinations such as St Just (for the Minack Theatre) or other airfields. For passengers with a layover or a flight delay, Penzance provides a better waiting option than the terminal. The train station is a short taxi ride away, and the town has several good pubs, seafood restaurants, and a cinema. The airport itself is close to the coastal path, and even a 30-minute walk along the cliff tops towards Land's End gives a sense of why people travel to this part of Cornwall.
Penzance's history is tied to tin mining, fishing, and piracy. The town was a major port and sits the most westerly railway station in England. The atmosphere is one of an ancient settlement that still functions as a living town, not just a tourist stage set. Winter brings storms and empty streets. Summer brings crowds and festivals. For visitors flying out of Land's End Airport in the morning, Penzance is a good place to spend the previous evening.
The airport is not open every day. Opening hours vary by season. In summer (April to October), the airport is usually open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Saturday, with reduced hours on Sunday. In winter, it opens fewer days and closes earlier. The busiest times, based on flight schedules, are Monday at 9 am, Tuesday at 4 pm, Wednesday at 12 pm, Thursday at 8 am. These times correspond with the main departure and arrival slots for the Skybus service.
Phone: +44 1736 788771 – call for flight updates and wheelchair bookings.
Website: https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/lands-end-airport/
One concrete piece of advice: book the earliest flight of the day. Weather in Cornwall is most reliable in the morning. Afternoon winds and sea fog frequently cause delays or cancellations for the Isles of Scilly route. The first flight usually departs around 8 am. If the day looks clear, take it.
Land's End Airport
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Wikipedia
More about Land's End Airport
Wikipedia
More about Land's End Airport
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Comprehensive guide to Cornwall Airport Newquay, covering location, transport, facilities, and the region's attractions. Practical info for a smooth journey.
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