Oxford flights grounded after just one week
10.03.10
Daily flights on a brand new route between Oxford and Edinburgh Airport have been grounded only a week after the very first trip, the Oxford Mail reports. Varsity Express, run by Summertown-based Martin Halstead, 23, has suspended the flights, due to ‘operational issues' with Humberside-based plane charter business Links Air, which was contracted to operate the 18-seater Jetstream 31 turboprop plane used on the route.
It is the second time one of Mr Halstead’s airline endeavors has stalled on the runway. 5 years ago, he was nicknamed Baby Branson after establishing the Oxford to Cambridge service when he was 18, but the route was not a success. The qualified pilot was later reported to be working for Virgin Atlantic as a flight attendant.
Three weeks ago, Mr Halstead contacted the Oxford Mail to inform them that sixty eight percent of tickets for the first month of the Oxford to Edinburgh route had been sold. He was unavailable for comment yesterday but a statement for Varsity Express stated: ‘All ticket sales have been suspended until further notice. Passengers affected by the suspension of the service either have been or are at present being informed of the situation.'
‘The board of Varsity Air Services Ltd are in current negotiation with potential aircraft operators and AOC holders who could provide the operational functionality required to allow the resumption of flights, on what has already proved to be an very popular, viable and sustainable route. The board are hopeful that Varsity Air Services Ltd will be able to resume full operational services within the very near future.’
Laura Conaty, a customer services spokesman for Oxford Airport, said: ‘Varsity Express has advised us all flights have been suspended for the time being. But they could carry on with the service with a different plane at a later date. The company has contacted its passengers so we haven’t had any customers turning up expecting to fly.’
Jon Ibbotson, the proprietor of Links Air, told the newspaper that the planes were grounded following a disagreement over a financial deal struck with Mr Halstead prior to the flights starting. He said: ‘I attempted to sort it out on numerous occasions over the phone.’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book edinburgh airport hotel or edinburgh airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great edinburgh airport car parking and edinburgh airport hotel price comparison pages.
