The aircraft waiting on the apron at Land’s End Airport is smaller than most people expect. It is a high-winged, twin-propeller Twin Otter, painted white with the Skybus name down the side, parked on a strip of tarmac with grass all round it and the Atlantic showing over the hedge. You can see the pilot through the windscreen. Nineteen passengers, their bags weighed to the kilo, walk out across the apron and climb the steps, and twenty minutes later they are coming in low over the sea towards St Mary’s.
For many visitors the flight is the best way to reach the Isles of Scilly: fast, spectacular, and immune to the seasickness that the ferry is famous for. It is also more expensive than the boat, strict about luggage in a way that catches people out, and — the one thing everybody learns eventually — routinely delayed by fog. This guide covers the three routes, the fares, the baggage rules, what the flight is like and what happens when the weather closes in.
Flights to Isles of Scilly at a glance
| Operator | Skybus, run by Isles of Scilly Travel |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | DHC-6 Twin Otter, 19 seats |
| Routes | Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter to St Mary’s |
| Flight times | Land’s End about 20 minutes, Newquay about 30, Exeter about an hour |
| Season | Year-round — the only scheduled link to the islands in winter |
| Dogs | From Land’s End and Newquay; not from Exeter |
| Hold luggage | 15 kg per person, up to two pieces |
| Hand luggage | 3 kg, maximum 30 x 15 x 15 cm |
| Check-in | Opens one hour before departure, closes 30 minutes before |
Fares, timetables and baggage rules can change, so check the operator’s current details before you book or pack.
The three routes
Land’s End
The main route and the shortest. Land’s End Airport sits on the high ground near St Just, a few miles from Land’s End itself, and the flight to St Mary’s takes about twenty minutes. It is the route with the most flights, the cheapest fares and the Skybus day trips, and it is the one that most visitors to west Cornwall use.
The airport is small and easy. There is parking in two car parks right beside the terminal and a lounge with views over the airfield, and for anyone without a car a transfer runs from Penzance railway station. Until 2014 all of the runways were grass; the airport closed for most of July that year while two of them were surfaced, which has improved reliability in wet weather, though not in fog. Our guide to Penzance covers the nearest town for an overnight stop.
Newquay
From Cornwall Airport Newquay, the county’s main airport, the flight takes about thirty minutes. It is the obvious choice if you are staying on the north coast or connecting from a flight from elsewhere in the UK, and it cuts out the long drive to the far west. Fares are higher than from Land’s End. Our Newquay guide covers the town if you are staying the night before.
Exeter
The longest route, at about an hour, and the most expensive. It is most useful for people coming from the east, who can avoid the A30 almost entirely and be on the islands by lunchtime. Dogs are not carried on the Exeter flights, which rules it out for anyone travelling with one.
The aircraft and the flight
Every Skybus route is flown by the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, a nineteen-seat twin-engined turboprop built for short runways and awkward places. It is unpressurised, it is noisy, the cabin is narrow, and there is no toilet and no cabin service. None of that matters on a twenty-minute flight.
What does matter is the view. The Twin Otter flies low, has big windows and high wings that leave the view underneath clear. Leaving Land’s End, you cross the far west of Cornwall with the granite cliffs and the Longships lighthouse below, then the open sea, and then the islands appear: pale sand, turquoise shallows, green fields and grey rocks laid out like a map. It is one of the best short flights in Britain, and on a clear day it gives you an understanding of how the islands fit together that you never get from the ferry.
If you are nervous about small aircraft, it helps to know that the Twin Otter is one of the most widely used and trusted small commuter aircraft in the world, operating in far harsher conditions than a hop across to Scilly. The flight is usually smooth; in wind it can be bumpy for a few minutes on the approach, and it is over very quickly.
Fares and booking
Single fares from Land’s End are the cheapest of the three routes, with Newquay and then Exeter costing progressively more. Fares vary by date and demand, so check the operator for your actual dates rather than relying on a figure from a previous year.
The Skybus day trip, flying out and back from Land’s End, runs Monday to Friday, can be booked up to seven days in advance and starts from £149 for an adult, £119 for a child, £52 for an infant and £106 for a dog. There is also a popular fly-out, sail-back combination, flying from Land’s End in the morning and returning on the Scillonian III in the afternoon. Our Isles of Scilly day trip guide compares those options in detail.
Book early for the school holidays and for Saturdays, when many island holidays start and end. With only nineteen seats per flight, popular times fill up quickly.
Baggage: the rule that catches everyone out
Luggage is where most people’s plans come unstuck, because the rules are tight, strictly applied, and not what regular airline travellers expect.
Hand luggage
The hand-luggage allowance is 3 kg, with a maximum size of 30 x 15 x 15 cm. That is roughly a small handbag or a camera case. You can also take a coat, a small camera, binoculars and something to read. A normal cabin bag or a day rucksack will not be allowed on board and will have to go in the hold.
Hold luggage
Each passenger can take two pieces of hold luggage with a combined weight of 15 kg, with a maximum size of 75 x 50 x 30 cm per bag. People travelling together can pool their allowances, but no single bag can weigh more than 20 kg. Children aged 2 to 11 get the same allowance as adults. Infants have no hold allowance, but a pushchair or travel cot goes free.
Fifteen kilos is not much for a week, especially with walking boots and waterproofs. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases, wear the heaviest shoes and coat, and weigh your bags before you leave home.
Excess, sports equipment and day trips
- Excess baggage costs £6 per kilo, but only on a space-available basis, and it may travel on a later flight. Arrange it with Skybus in advance rather than turning up with it.
- Oversized items and sports equipment — bikes, surfboards, large diving gear — need approval in advance.
- Day-trip tickets include no hold luggage at all, so travel light.
If you have more than the allowance, the alternative is to fly yourself and send luggage by sea on the Scillonian III, which has a more generous allowance. Our Scillonian ferry guide covers the boat’s luggage system.
Check-in and getting to the airport
Check-in opens an hour before departure and closes thirty minutes before. On a small aircraft with every bag weighed, the check-in closing time is firm.
For Land’s End, allow plenty of time for the drive from Penzance — the lanes are narrow and slow — or use the transfer from Penzance station. If you are coming from further afield, a night in Penzance before an early flight takes the pressure off. For Newquay and Exeter, the usual airport rules apply: allow for traffic, especially on summer Saturdays. Our guide to getting to Cornwall covers the train and road routes, and getting around Cornwall without a car covers the buses and connections.
On arrival, St Mary’s Airport is on the island’s high ground, a short taxi or bus ride from Hugh Town. Many accommodation providers meet flights or arrange transport, and luggage for the off-islands can be sent on.
Fog: the honest part
Fog is the routine cause of Skybus delays and cancellations, and it is not rare. It can form over Land’s End or St Mary’s on a day that looks fine everywhere else, and it is particularly common in late spring and early summer when warm air moves over the cold sea. On a foggy morning flights may be held for hours, then run in a rush when it lifts, or be cancelled altogether.
What this means for planning:
- Check the service status the evening before and on the morning of your flight.
- Do not book a tight connection. If you are flying home from Scilly, leave a buffer before any train, flight or appointment on the mainland.
- Know the options. When fog is forecast, the operator has in the past offered affected passengers a free transfer to the Scillonian III or another date, space permitting. Check what applies on the day.
- Take out travel insurance that covers delay and disruption.
- Keep your hand luggage useful: a book, snacks and whatever you need if you end up waiting several hours.
Fog is also the reason many regular visitors fly one way and sail the other. Our Cornwall weather month by month guide explains why the late spring sea fret happens.
Fly or sail?
| Skybus | Scillonian III | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 20 minutes from Land’s End | About 2 hours 45 minutes from Penzance |
| Season | Year-round | Roughly March to November |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Luggage | Strict: 15 kg hold, 3 kg hand | More generous, with island luggage labels |
| Seasickness | None | A real possibility in a swell |
| Main risk | Fog | Rough seas |
| Dogs | From Land’s End and Newquay | Yes, from Penzance |
The best answer for many people is both: fly one way for the view and the extra time on the islands, and sail the other way for the Cornish coast and the dolphins. Our full Isles of Scilly guide covers the islands themselves once you have arrived.
Flying with a dog
Dogs can fly from Land’s End and Newquay but not from Exeter. On a nineteen-seat aircraft there is limited space for animals, so book the dog’s place at the same time as your own and check the current rules and charges. The Skybus day trip fare for a dog starts from £106. Dogs can also travel on the Scillonian III from Penzance, which is cheaper and has outside deck space.
Flying in winter
From roughly November to March, when the Scillonian III is not running, Skybus is the only scheduled way on and off the islands. Winter flights are fewer, the days are short, and the weather — fog, gales and low cloud — causes more disruption. If you are visiting in winter, build extra days into the plan and accept that you may leave a day early or late. The islands in winter are quiet, mild and beautiful, and worth the uncertainty for the right visitor.
The honest verdict
Flying to Scilly is quick, thrilling and completely avoids the seasickness question, and the view from a Twin Otter coming in low over the islands is one of the best arrivals anywhere in Britain. If you can afford it, fly at least one way.
The costs are the price, the luggage limits and the fog. Travel light, never make the flight home your last connection of the day, and treat a fog delay as part of the island experience rather than a disaster. If those trade-offs do not suit you — large family, lots of luggage, tight budget, fixed schedule — the ferry is the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight to the Isles of Scilly?
About 20 minutes from Land’s End, about 30 minutes from Newquay and about an hour from Exeter, all to St Mary’s Airport.
Who flies to the Isles of Scilly?
Skybus, operated by Isles of Scilly Travel, runs the scheduled flights using nineteen-seat DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
What is the Skybus luggage allowance?
Two pieces of hold luggage per person with a combined weight of 15 kg, plus 3 kg of hand luggage no larger than 30 x 15 x 15 cm. Day-trip tickets include no hold luggage.
Do Skybus flights run in winter?
Yes. Skybus operates year-round and is the only scheduled way to reach the islands when the Scillonian III is not sailing.
Are flights often cancelled by fog?
Fog is the most common cause of delays and cancellations, especially in late spring and early summer. Check the service status, leave a buffer for onward travel and have travel insurance.
Can I fly to Scilly with my dog?
Yes, from Land’s End and Newquay, but not from Exeter. Book the dog’s place with your own.
When should I check in?
Check-in opens an hour before departure and closes thirty minutes before. Arrive in good time, as bags are weighed and the aircraft is small.
Which airport should I fly from?
Land’s End for the shortest, cheapest flight and the day trips; Newquay if you are staying on the north coast or connecting from another flight; Exeter if you are coming from the east and want to avoid the drive.
Pack to the kilo, book the morning flight, and keep an eye on the fog. Get those three things right and the Skybus is the most exciting twenty minutes of any Cornish holiday — a low, loud, beautiful hop across the sea that turns the Isles of Scilly from a distant line on the horizon into the place you are about to land.
Land at St Mary’s Airport and you’re a short taxi ride from Hugh Town and everything the island has to offer. Our St Mary’s visitor guide covers the Garrison, the coast path and where to eat once you’ve touched down.
Photo credits: Skybus Twin Otter at Land’s End Airport — A Twin Otter waits at Lands End Airport by nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence). Skybus Twin Otter in flight — De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (Isles of Scilly Skybus) by NMOS332, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence). The Western Rocks — Isles of Scilly, The Western Rocks from Gorregan by Michael Earnshaw, CC BY-SA 2.0 (licence).