Bus429 is on the right track. It takes a lot of manpower and time to put into place the necessary before any aviation authority worth its title would let you have an AOC. Engineering facilities, training policy, supervisory structure with people in post who know what's what just for starters. I will still stick to my suggetion that Stobart Air willl not look to the CAA out of choice, far too expensive but will pick an EU nation whose AA have a reputation for taking the money and turning a blind eye, contract someone to do the admin, provide the umbrella for the AOC and start eliminating the competition.