Varsity Express - OXF-EDI
Shame on you miserable cynics out there!
Of all the untapped, untried, UK domestic routes out there, OXF-EDI has got to be a goldmine. There’s nothing wrong with the viability of the route, it’s the viability of any new start-up that is the point. You can debate about the operator, the aircraft type/size/age, the schedule and the ticket pricing, but the route is fantastic.
The likes of Farnborough or Biggin Hill would kill to have a daily ‘business’ shuttle to Edinburgh – but they can’t because they’re not allowed scheduled services. Oxford is and they appear to be opening the doors to niche airlines for the first time with the Jersey, Geneva and now daily EDI services. Just look at the CAA stats for private charters between the London region and Scotland.
Oxford is so viable – until now, it’s the only major city in the UK that hasn’t had a regional airport nearby offering regional airline services, there’s no competition for over an hour in any direction - it's not like say poor old Coventry and Birmingham. It’s in the richest part of the UK (Oxon/Berks/Bucks) with the highest GVA, highest growth, millions within an hour’s drive up and down the relatively uncongested M40 and it’s the third most visited city in England outside of London – 10 million visitors for goodness sake!
Edinburgh and Oxford are cultural and academic epicentres. The train services between the two are, for 2010, utterly hopeless - and mind-blowingly expensive. A flexible first class return ticket costs £470 and the service averages over 6 hours each way with at least one train change each way – the Flying Scotsman did better than that, and that ate coal!
There are loads of barriers to success in this business but it’s a good start to have a good route and no competition. As for the airline, hopefully they have all their ducks in a row and the actual operator, Linksair, know what they are doing - the CAA have given them an AOC, so presumably they do?
As arguably the first time in history an Oxfordshire resident can practically do a hassle free, day-return business trip to Scotland, logic says it might work!
Good luck to you and all that sail in your vessel.