Skybus managing director leaves with immediate effect

Managing Director of Regional airline Skybus, Jonathan Hinkles, has left the airline with immediate effect, less than 18 months after taking charge of the Isles of Scilly carrier.

The unexpected departure comes just months after the airline was at the centre of the high-profile collapse of Cornwall’s subsidised London Gatwick air service, when the carrier took on the route before it was ultimately discontinued.

Airline veteran Jonathan Hinkles leaves Skybus by mutual consent

Hinkles, an experienced airline executive with over 30 years in the industry, joined Skybus in January 2025.

At the time, parent company the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) said his appointment formed part of a wider strategy to restore the airline to long-term financial sustainability. 

He was appointed to a newly created role and made responsible for all aspects of the airline’s operations, which centre on services from Land’s End, Exeter and Cornwall Newquay airports to St Mary’s, the largest and most populous island in the Isles of Scilly. 

He led the Skybus management team in delivering its strategy, reporting to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Aviation Board committee.

Prior to taking on the role, Hinkles had been working with Skybus’s management team in an advisory capacity for six months.

Hinkles started his career with Gatwick-based regional airline CityFlyer Express in 1993, and held senior roles with charter airline Astraeus and with Virgin Atlantic.

Most recently, he was Chief Executive of UK regional airline Loganair, a role he held for eight years before moving to Skybus. 

But this week it emerged Hinkles and ISSG had “mutually agreed” that he should leave the role with immediate effect. No reason was given. 

The announcement leaves Skybus under the temporary leadership of Stuart Reid, who is already serving as chief executive officer of the ISSG.

Skybus has endured a challenging year 

Hinkles’ departure follows one of the most challenging episodes in the airline’s recent history after Skybus temporarily took over the Cornwall Airport Newquay-London Gatwick route.

However, Skybus had to axe the Gatwick-Newquay route following a decision by Cornwall Council to end its support for the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route, which is jointly subsidised by the Department for Transport (DfT) and local authorities or devolved governments.

As a result of that decision, Skybus cancelled all flights on the route beyond the end of May this year. 

Skybus had stepped in to cover the route when former operator Eastern Airways fell into administration. 

It was further complicated by the fact that when Skybus took over the Cornwall Airport Newquay-London Gatwick PSO route, it did not have a suitable aircraft in its own fleet. 

It initially leased a Boeing 737 from Ascend Airways before switching to a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 operated by Universal Air.

Skybus faces local criticism – but remains a lifeline for the Isles of Scilly

The debacle has prompted criticism from groups that rely on the airline for connectivity in the South West.

Chairman of the tourist board Visit Scilly, Andrew Sells, told the BBC people were “extremely unhappy” with the service and confirmed a letter had been signed by 150 residents complaining about the reliability of the air links to the islands. 

The Scilly Isles are not an easy place from which to operate an airline. 

Weather disruption is common with services regularly affected by fog, strong winds and poor visibility. 

The airline has also had to contend with rising operating costs, from fuel prices and maintenance costs to higher staffing expenses. 

Despite these challenges, Skybus remains a vital lifeline for the islands to the UK mainland – not only for passengers but also for mail and freight.