Car Hire Newquay Airport

Car Hire

Newquay Airport is the aviation gateway to the stunning county of Cornwall and its major tourism resort, Newquay. Located on Cornwall’s north coast at Mawgan, just over four miles from Newquay, it’s a small facility which was originally built to serve the US Air Force’s tactical nuclear bomber squadron but was handed over as a commercial airport just recently. Transport links with Newquay and the rest of Cornwall are via bus, taxi or hire car, with car rental in Newquay Airport the most popular means of exploring the country and its attractions.

Who to Book With
Three car hire companies, Hertz, Avis and Europcar, operate at Newquay Airport, all with desks in the Arrivals area. Self-drive is the most comfortable and most practical way to get out and about in Cornwall’s glorious countryside.

Need to Know Essentials
The following documents should be presented at vehicle collection:

- Your UK, EU or home country driver’s licence
- The credit card used for your reservation
- A passport or utility bill confirming your ID
- Confirmation of booking

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Apart from major roads connecting coastal resorts and inland towns, Cornwall features mostly remote country roads that wind between stone walls and hedges, over desolate moorlands and along rugged coastlines. Farm vehicles, and occasionally farm animals, are given priority, with passing places provided at the roadside. Driving here is a civilised experience, although many roads are unlit at night. The county gets crowded during the summer season, making parking difficult in popular coastal villages and towns. Nowadays, there’s a good supply of petrol stations, most of which are happy to accept card payments. Warning triangles and visibility vests should be carried.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving here.

Transport

Transport from the airport to Newquay is by bus, taxi or self-drive, with the latter the fastest and most convenient way to travel. Although Newquay is connected to England’s national rail network, there is no train service directly from the airport to the resort. Bus travel is relatively cheap, but taxi travel, especially for long journeys, is expensive.

Trains
There is no train service directly at Newquay Airport but First Great Western trains run to London-Paddington via Par Station from Newquay Railway Station in the city.

Taxis
Biotravel is the airport’s chosen taxi partner. Taxis can be booked in advance or at the company’s desk in the Arrivals hall. The company monitors the flights of its customers and makes sure a representative meets them off the plane. Discounts are given for online bookings.

Taxi prices:
Newquay Airport to Newquay city centre is about £15
Newquay Airport to Plymouth is about £75
Newquay Airport to Penzance is about £75

Buses
Western Greyhound offers hourly bus links from the airport to Newquay and other popular Cornish destinations. Bus number 556 runs to the city’s bus station between 08:05 and 19:25, with the journey taking approximately 25 minutes. The reasonably-priced, single-journey tickets are purchased from the driver. For touring the region by bus, an all-day travel ticket costs £10.

Facilities

Terminal
Newquay Airport’s single terminal has eight check-in desks that serve passengers on its four carriers, EasyJet, Flybe, Lufthansa and Isles of Scilly Skybus. Routes offered include seasonals to Dusseldorf, Norwich, Liverpool and Southend, and regular flights to Belfast, Glasgow, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and St Mary’s on the Scilly Isles. Annual passenger throughput stands at over 200,000, and all departing passengers are required to pay a users’ tax of £5, which is set towards the improvement of airport facilities.

Parking
The airport’s two car parks are located either side of the terminal and offer a total of 544 parking bays, 10 of which are close to the terminal entrance and dedicated to disabled drivers. Pay-and-display ticket machines are found at the car park entrances, and a drop-off point is found outside the terminal entrance. Payment is by cash or card and ranges between £1 for 1 hour and £13 for 24 hours, with a sliding scale for longer stays.

Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access is available at the terminal.

Information Services
An information desk is located in the public area of the terminal.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +44 163 786 0600

Accessibility
Passengers with special needs are offered dedicated call points where they can alert assistance staff as to their arrival. Wheelchairs, modified toilets, a dedicated seating area in the Departures lounge, induction loops at the information desk, fast-track check-in and security, an ambulift for deplaning and boarding, and dedicated car parking bays are also provided.

Restaurants and Bars
Food and drink facilities are limited to Horizon Café in the Departures area, which serves snacks, sandwiches and cakes, and two Coffee Republic coffee bars, which are located landside and airside, and offer a selection of pastries, soft drinks and coffees.

VIP Lounges
Executive Lounge

Money and ATMs
ATMs are found in the terminal’s Arrivals and Departures halls, and currency exchange is available in the Arrivals area.

Shopping
Travellers can browse and purchase gifts and souvenirs of their visit in the special section of the airside branch of Coffee Republic or they can buy books, newspapers and other basics in the landside convenience store.