Newquay-2
 

Newquay has closed its terminal to passengers for the time being in a short statement this morning.

Loganair seem to be increasing routes at nqy. The latest addition being MME

so loganair will operate MME and MAN in addition to eastern.

Newquay airport closed
 

Not strictly true, the airfield would appear to be open just not the terminal for scheduled airline ops.

So Boris has just announced that the 2021 G7 summit will be held in Cornwall.

I should imagine that Newquay Airport management have just had a collective panic attack.

US government will most likely utilise the highly secure RAF Fairford for Biden visit as with Obama to Wales

Fairford is a long way from St Ives! (over 200 miles)

More likely they use NQY and bring a lot of security, or bring him over in something smaller (eg, 757, like Trump at SOU) that could use the Military security of Culdrose (longest runway 1800m)
which is pretty close.

NQY has a lot of space, plenty for the Govt widebodies and military accompanyment.

It's the 20,000 journalists who will be using Newquay......................

Did he say WHERE in Cornwall? There can't be many options........................

All the articles on G7 in Cornwall seems to have been pulled - a google search linked to a number of pages at different pages but they're all "not available"

Sounds like either someone mis-heard or they jumped the gun....................

Asturias56

Carbis Bay, near St.Ives.

Actual venue seems to be where Mrs CP and I had our wedding reception 25 years ago! Nephew already had a visit to Carbis Bay booked for what I think is the likely week of the Summit. Told him driving from there to St Ives that week might be challenging! Assumes that we’re down to Tier 1 or 2 by then of course!

If its the Carbis Bay Hotel, it's a nice place (and not cheap), but big enough to host a G7?

G7: UK to host Cornwall seaside summit in summer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55678267

The venue mentioned is Tregenna Castle, which is a larger and more secluded location and makes more sense for security etc.

Tregenna would make a lot more sense, but it is indeed the Carbis Bay Hotel.

They're putting the media centre in the Maritime Museum at Falmouth

has anyone ever driven between there and St Ives? the highways and byways are going to be clogged solid..

and how the Beast will get around is anyone's guess - should open up a few roads tho'......

I have lived in this area for the past eighteen years so have a fair idea. Driving between Falmouth and Carbos Bay is not an issue, "The beast" is a minnow compared to a lot of traffic that will use these roads. Tregenna Castle will be easy for landing helicopters so wouldn't that be the most likely way VIP's would get in and out, probably flying back to St Mawgan, or, is even RAF Chivenor an option? What is likely to be more of an issue in Falmouth is finding beds for all of the media.
By coincidence I also happen to be a volunteer with D&C Police so will possibly be a tiny cog in the huge traffic flow and management task, should be really interesting!
Finally I hear there is a plan to try to launch the first space flight at the same time, Better get a bigger car park!!

G7 Arrivals
 

How about using RNAS Culdrose , then helicopter to Carbis Bay.

Thinking about it, there should only be one movement in and one out of any leaders aircraft and apart from President Biden none will likely be using any aircraft needing massive runways. The biggest issue will be security whilst stored. To avoid turning NQY in to a fortress, logistically it would surely be far more secure to use an existing military base such as Culdrose, Chivenor or even Lyneham then simply helicopter to the golf course right by the Hotel. Lyneham is a long way away and I have no idea the range of helicopters that could fly to Carbis Bay quickly so that maybe not practical. Culdrose is about half the distance in road time from the Hotel than NQY so another reason it may be more suitable. NQY to Carbis Bay the access roads are arguably better but even from Culdrose they are not a problem.
There are many local rumours about making changes at NQY, spending hundreds on upgrades, but, these must surely be just rumours. Where NQY will of course stand to earn real extra revenue is from the hangers on, press, support teams who will be flying in and out commercially in thousands.
We will see what happens the only thing I would recommend is avoid taking your holidays that week.

It’s really not that big of an issue. These planes use commercial airports all the time.

as for the size of the aircraft Japan will also come by 777-300. Germany could use their A350. Korea has been invited so they would likely use their 747 too. Biden isn’t the only one with a big jet.

There is even a large chance they will go to London and then just use cars/coaches to go down to Cornwall. This is what has been done for State Visits by some leaders that have gone outside London.

I'm certainly no expert on the performance of the VC-25 (so fully expecting to be corrected!) but would they not be looking for a bit more runway to play with than either Chivenor or Culdrose?

If I remember correctly for the summit in Birmingham Air Force 1 dropped Bill Clinton off at BHX but he flew out of U.K. from Mildenhall

It's not all about the size of the runway. I was based at RAF Northolt and we handled lots of summits etc. The security services take in to account access for the motorcade, escape options for the motorcade in the unlikely event of an incident along with access to a large medical facility again in the unlikely event.

They’ll be doing their nut if they need a motorcade from Culdrose to Carbis Bay! The A30 down from Newquay might not be too bad as long as they avoid the weekend!

Lots of heli activity then ..... the preferred option for most.

Surely if they're already in London they should travel down by train to reduce their carbon emissions

It's a great journey, but slow once past Exeter (although very scenic in parts). Biden is apparantly a bit of a rail geek ("Amtrak Joe") so might appreciate Dawlish, the "Devon banks" (some of the steepest mainline railway in the UK) and Brunel's bridge across the Tamar just after Plymouth. The branch line from St Erth to St Ives must be the prettiest in the UK - and is currently having it's track renewed (which Network Rail are saying is a coincidence of timing!)

Well 'Sleepy Joe' apparently favours the train to travel into DC from Delaware, so perhaps he'll be tempted by the delights of GWR....... then again, perhaps not!

Can you imagine the number of secret service that would be needed for train to be used, surely a helicopter is going to be used

I think there's more than an element of tongue stuck firmly in cheek here. Mind you Johnson could always beg loan of the Royal Train from Ma'am and pile all the leaders on to it, along with their entourages! All those leaders in such a confined space might actually lead to some real business being done, and some tangible results from this annual junket.

"There is even a large chance they will go to London and then just use cars/coaches to go down to Cornwall"

even going blues & twos that's a 4+ hour trip = helicopter wins


I read that they're starting work on the bit of the A30 N of Truro this spring.......... dualling it I believe

For security reasons alone, Biden will use Marine One from I would imagine either Fairford or St Mawgan and talk of travel by road or rail is an absolute non starter!

Aren't we all getting a bit ahead of ourselves here; if Covid-19 doesn't behave, then the G7 could just as easily be another Microsoft Teams meeting!!

Good point at nots- & don’t forget the quarantine period ! I will get my cost

ATNotts

Maybe, but this is a rumour forum and during these uncertain times for all, it’s nice to have a bit of harmless speculation and banter!

Indeed so, saw a press release on this a few days ago. It's one of the last bits of single carriageway on the A30 between Exeter and Penzance.

The local roads around the site of the conference aren't exactly decent - if you have several thousands media types (and the inevitable protestors) I think it'll be a zoo.................. one road into the site across the railway line......
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1cda408919.jpg

Maybe Boris will cycle down?

wonder if they'll shut down the railway line behind the hotel?

The daily wail asking for road widening to accommodate the “beast”, looks like road closures as well. How about a ship to shore trip from an aircraft carrier? Good luck Cornwall.