To start an airline you need 2 persons : one that does not know anything about Aviation but has a lot of money ( age is not important ) and another one that knows a lot about aviation but has no money ( the older the better ). Generally after a few years the result is that you have 2 guys who both by now know a lot about avaition and both have no money.
Only exception : Richard Branson, who before , it was too late, sold half his airline to the Singaporians, so that even if his airline fails now he still will have made a very good return on his initial investment.
Ah.. to know when to withdraw in time....