From the Blackpool Gazette last years when he was about to start for the 3rd time, and this latest attempt is his 4th go.
Banned airline boss's latest venture
AN airline boss who has pledged not to run a company for the next six years is hoping his career will take off again – with the launch of new flights between Blackpool and the Isle of Man.
New twice-daily services are being launched from Blackpool Airport by British Northwest Airlines next month.
And the man behind the venture is Robert Murgatroyd, former director of grounded Blackpool-based airline Comed Aviation, which collapsed with debts of more than £1.1m.
In March, The Gazette reported how Mr Murgatroyd, of Elswick, undertook not to be a director or manager of a company for six years in a self-imposed ban agreed with the Department of Trade and Industry.
The DTI had found that Mr Murgatroyd had been unfit to hold a directorship
because he had allowed Comed to continue trading after August 1, 2000, when he knew that it was not paying suppliers and creditors.
Comed went into administrative receivership in 2001 with estimated debts of £1.1m owed to its creditors.
The undertaking given by Mr Murgatroyd to the DTI prevents him from being a director of any company or being concerned either directly or indirectly in management.
A spokesman for the DTI said: "Mr Murgatroyd has given an undertaking not to act as a director for six years."
Mr Murgatroyd has since relaunched a Comed flying school and has been employed as its commercial manager.
Mr Murgatroyd was also behind British North West Airlines, which grounded its twice-daily flights to Belfast and the Isle of Man from Blackpool Airport last year after three months' service, blaming disappointing passenger numbers.
He has so far been unavailable for comment.
30 May 2003