Frank - you are being unfair on Brighton City Airways. They lasted much longer than a few weeks. They lasted 2 months !
Commercially both Brighton City and Minoan may have been a disaster, but I have reservations about criticising these start-ups too much - if it wasn't for those entrpreneurs who are willing to put up their cash and give it a go, then the larger airlines of Europe would be much more slow moving and stodgy. A company can subscribe to the latest and greatest management theories, but ultimately fear (of competition) and greed (for cash) is what drives shareholders and senior managers - the possibility of entrepreneurs setting up in competition keeps those basal emotions alive. The losses by a small entrepreneur may be measurable and observable - but the gains through competition from increased efficiency by a much larger rival may well be both much larger and also impossible to measure or observe publicy.
At the very least, Minoan have shown that there is potential demand for an Oxford-Edinburgh route (CAA stats show with very little public advertising they managed 14 pax per flight in June) - it just needs an airline with a 50-seater and better marketing to get it going.
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 22nd Jul 2013 at 18:40.
Reason: Add CAA stats