Flying to South Devon: Exeter, Bristol or Newquay?

Of the three airports convenient for flying to South Devon, Bristol is the largest, serving over 10 million annual passengers. Exeter is the closest, and Newquay is the friendliest UK airport, so that’s saying something.

But just because Exeter is close, you shouldn’t immediately take Bristol and Newquay out of the running. The airport that works best for you will depend on where you’re coming from, the type of ground transportation you’ll use, and where you’re staying.

We’ll help you make the choice between Exeter, Bristol and Newquay Airports by comparing flights, location and ease of getting to both the South Devon coast and countryside.

Exeter Airport: The most convenient choice

In the year ending March 2026, Exeter Airport saw a 32% increase in passenger traffic compared to the previous year. It’s the only option that’s actually in Devon, but it may not always have the route you’re looking for. 

Where is it?

Just over five miles east of Exeter city centre.

Who flies to Exeter Airport?

Currently, only seven different airlines fly to and from Exeter, and some routes are seasonal:

• Ryanair: from Alicante, Málaga, Faro, Palma de Mallorca

• KLM: from Amsterdam

• Loganair: from Edinburgh, Newcastle, Jersey

• TUI: from Tenerife, Corfu

• Aer Lingus: from Belfast, Dublin

• Aurigny: from Guernsey

• Skybus: from St. Mary’s

How to reach the coast from Exeter Airport

It’s easy enough to get into the Exeter city centre via the Stagecoach 4A bus. Once here, trains connect to southern spots like Dawlish, Torquay and Totnes.

Smaller coastal villages are more challenging. Places like Hope Cove and Beesands don’t have train stations, so hiring a car is recommended. Otherwise, you can take a taxi from the nearest station in Totnes, but it’ll cost you!

What if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Flight disruptions can happen no matter which of the three airports you pick. The same goes for airlines. If your flight is delayed by at least three hours on arrival or cancelled with less than 14 days' notice for reasons within the airline's control, you may be entitled to compensation. This is true whether you’re flying Ryanair, easyJet, TUI or KLM. 

AirAdvisor explains when passengers can claim up to £520 in Ryanair compensation as an example. The same passenger rights can apply to qualifying flights from Bristol, Exeter and Newquay with other airlines.

The actual amount depends on distance. The £520 is reserved for flights over 3,500km. More realistically, you’ll experience shorter flights from any of these three airports. Flights under 1,500km are eligible for up to £220, and for those between 1,500km and 3,500km, it’s up to £350.

Bristol Airport: Many more flights

While Bristol Airport may be a bit lacking when it comes to proximity to South Devon, it often makes up for it with more airlines, routes and flights compared to Exeter.

Where is it?

Using Exeter as our Devon benchmark, Bristol Airport is 70 miles northeast. That’s about an hour and a half by car and two hours by public transport.

Who flies to Bristol Airport?

Bristol Airport is used by 11 airlines; here are the main routes:

• Ryanair: over 30 routes, including Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh and Málaga

• easyJet: 90+ routes, including Inverness, Paris, Belfast and Newcastle

• KLM: from Amsterdam

• Loganair: from Aberdeen and Jersey

• TUI: routes including Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca and Lanzarote

• Aer Lingus: from Dublin

• Jet2: over 100 flights per week in the summer, including Corfu, Malta and Gran Canaria

• Aurigny: from Guernsey

How to reach the South Devon coast from Bristol Airport

Your best bet if taking public transport is to travel via Exeter. 

First, take the A1 Airport Flyer to Bristol Temple Meads and then take the direct CrossCountry train. Use the same onward connections to the coast as with Exeter Airport to spots like Torquay and Totnes.

Cornwall Newquay Airport: Useful for western South Devon

This Cornwall hub might make more sense than the others if your destination includes more western South Devon locations like Plymouth or Wembury.

Where is it?

It’s 50 miles west of Plymouth, which is about a 75-minute drive.

Who flies to Newquay Airport?

Seven airlines use Cornwall Airport Newquay, with many of the available destinations being summer or winter only, not year-round:

• Loganair: Aberdeen, Isle of Man and Manchester (year-round), Glasgow (summer)

• Ryanair: Edinburgh and Faro (summer), Alicante, Dublin, Málaga and London Stansted (year-round)

• Aer Lingus: Belfast and Dublin (summer)

• Eurowings: Düsseldorf (summer)

• easyJet: London Gatwick and Manchester (summer), Geneva (winter, from January 2027)

• Edelweiss: Zürich (summer)

• Skybus: Isles of Scilly (year-round)

How to reach the South Devon coast from Newquay Airport

The catch with Newquay is that to avoid quite long train and bus journeys, you’ll want to hire a car to get to South Devon and the coast. Just getting to Plymouth on public transport can take over two and a half hours with two connections (94 line bus, 57 line bus, train).

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