Varsity Express
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The purpose of boards like this appears to be to rehash what's already printed in the media - inside information? I think not. Especially with threads getting deleted. It's only thanks to the Sunday Times that we're having this Monday-morning quarterback discussion. 
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The way it is
In line with a few other posters, the fact that some individuals were duped into paying 'up-front' fees for TR, is unfortunately down to them. Others smelt it for what it was - a hair brained fantasy, and walked away. Well done to them. This whole arena in aviation is, like our great banking institutions, a disaster waiting to happen. Passengers rushing like lemmings to pay fares 6 months up front, fares that barely cover op costs, to on line credit card companies, who profit, propping up severly flawed and financially damaged airline companies. Poor sods, who 'only want to fly' paying their companies for the privelege to work for them. The 'authorities'
sitting back, washing their hands of any responsibilty, and picking up what pieces (sometimes), are left, once the s*** has hit the fan. All through the threads in these forums are the concerns - safety, SOPS, bust outfits, crews left without jobs, passengers left in hell holes with kids etc etc. I do not agree with the BA strike situation, but maybe, just maybe, they are the last stand
sitting back, washing their hands of any responsibilty, and picking up what pieces (sometimes), are left, once the s*** has hit the fan. All through the threads in these forums are the concerns - safety, SOPS, bust outfits, crews left without jobs, passengers left in hell holes with kids etc etc. I do not agree with the BA strike situation, but maybe, just maybe, they are the last stand
Just discovered that Mr Halstead had a county court judgement against him from 2006 (for £1,513) which was cleared on 4 February 2010 - now, I wonder where he might have got the money to do that?
Last edited by Captivep; 15th Mar 2010 at 11:40. Reason: Spelling
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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Oh boy.
Wonder what MH's next venture will be - I'm sure quite a few of us older and wiser heads who posted on this thread would like "I Told You So" t-shirts!!
I'm at a bit of a loss to understand the CAA position in all of this. He clearly, under his plans, didn't need an AOC (he wasn't intending to fly anything) but as a ticketing agent, where was his ATOL? My experience of the CAA has been nothing but positive in regards to their commercial regulatory role, and I am trying to work out how he thought he could get away with this - or how he actually could get away with it?
That Times article is pretty damning. Of perhaps more concern to us as an industry, is the effect this whole shambles may have on other, more sensible, start-ups. The industry NEEDS start-ups - and if MH has made it harder for anyone more sensible to start, then shame on him.
TA
Wonder what MH's next venture will be - I'm sure quite a few of us older and wiser heads who posted on this thread would like "I Told You So" t-shirts!!
I'm at a bit of a loss to understand the CAA position in all of this. He clearly, under his plans, didn't need an AOC (he wasn't intending to fly anything) but as a ticketing agent, where was his ATOL? My experience of the CAA has been nothing but positive in regards to their commercial regulatory role, and I am trying to work out how he thought he could get away with this - or how he actually could get away with it?
That Times article is pretty damning. Of perhaps more concern to us as an industry, is the effect this whole shambles may have on other, more sensible, start-ups. The industry NEEDS start-ups - and if MH has made it harder for anyone more sensible to start, then shame on him.
TA
I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone that the two companies mentioned in post 105 never filed any accounts at all with Companies House.
Last edited by Captivep; 15th Mar 2010 at 13:22. Reason: Spelling
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Don't say you weren't warned
Oxford Airport denies any recent contact with the owner of Alpha1 Airways, Martin Halstead, and said not to trust the teenage entrepreneur.
Last week Malcolm Gault agreed that the scheme was a “brilliant idea”, but criticised the airline’s chief, calling him ‘Walter Mitty mark II’.
That was from the Cambridge student newspaper Varsity five years ago.
but as a ticketing agent, where was his ATOL?
Who needs an ATOL?
An Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) is required by law when a firm sells:
* flight-based packages;
* charter flights;
* scheduled flights where an airline ticket is not issued straight away:
Travel agents selling flight-based packages and flights as an agent for ATOL holders do not require their own ATOL, providing that these sales are documented correctly.
An Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) is required by law when a firm sells:
* flight-based packages;
* charter flights;
* scheduled flights where an airline ticket is not issued straight away:
Travel agents selling flight-based packages and flights as an agent for ATOL holders do not require their own ATOL, providing that these sales are documented correctly.
If Varsity Airlines issued flight tickets on the scheduled flights operated by Linksair immediately on application (which as the only ticket seller, it would be able to), then it was in effect operating as a direct agent for the airline - and tickets bought from an airline are not required to be covered by an ATOL.
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Agreed Checkboard - but then, if this was effectively a charter of a LinksAir aircraft by Varsity - who issued the tickets?
That's what is making me wonder... if LinksAir issued the tickets, great. If not - uh oh.... and since the ticket revenue seemed to be piling up in Varsity's accounts, then no ticket was issued by LinksAir!
TA
That's what is making me wonder... if LinksAir issued the tickets, great. If not - uh oh.... and since the ticket revenue seemed to be piling up in Varsity's accounts, then no ticket was issued by LinksAir!
TA
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TA
There is a standard exemption from the need for an ATOL as follows:
"Section 5 Class Exemptions from the ATOL
Regulations
EXEMPTION 1
1 The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under Regulation 5 of the Civil
Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) Regulations 1995, hereby exempts from the
need to hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (subject to paragraph 3 below) any
person who makes available flight accommodation:
(a)in aircraft with 19 or fewer seats available for occupation by passengers; "
At least there is at the moment - I would imagine that VE will have raised the profile of this at the CAA given that there is a consultation running on updating ATOL regulations.
There is a standard exemption from the need for an ATOL as follows:
"Section 5 Class Exemptions from the ATOL
Regulations
EXEMPTION 1
1 The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under Regulation 5 of the Civil
Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) Regulations 1995, hereby exempts from the
need to hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (subject to paragraph 3 below) any
person who makes available flight accommodation:
(a)in aircraft with 19 or fewer seats available for occupation by passengers; "
At least there is at the moment - I would imagine that VE will have raised the profile of this at the CAA given that there is a consultation running on updating ATOL regulations.
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Ah, thanks kirkbymoorside!
You live and learn. I spend my life worrying about Type A licences....
Definitely a loophole for our friends in Kingsway....
TA
You live and learn. I spend my life worrying about Type A licences....
Definitely a loophole for our friends in Kingsway....
TA
Just found this report from the Oxford Times two days before the Sunday Times published their story. Mr Halstead is either completely delusional or willing to continue to mislead in the hope that something might turn up!
But then, hoping something good might turn up appears to have been the entire business case for the airline. If anybody could ever get hold of any business plan that was written, I would be fascinated to read it...
"Mr Halstead said: “It has been a pretty awful week.
“Varsity Express is now looking to work with other operators, but there is a limit to what I can say for legal reasons.
“There was a breakdown in the relationship (with Links Air) and we have suffered a great loss by the breakdown of that relationship.
“We are offering refunds to passengers as and when requested. I want to try to move onwards and upwards.”
But then, hoping something good might turn up appears to have been the entire business case for the airline. If anybody could ever get hold of any business plan that was written, I would be fascinated to read it...
"Mr Halstead said: “It has been a pretty awful week.
“Varsity Express is now looking to work with other operators, but there is a limit to what I can say for legal reasons.
“There was a breakdown in the relationship (with Links Air) and we have suffered a great loss by the breakdown of that relationship.
“We are offering refunds to passengers as and when requested. I want to try to move onwards and upwards.”
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Incredible!!!
I feel very sorry fpr the 4 pilots taken for a ride - especially the one mentioned in the Times article.
While a few airlines are taking good care of their cadets in prep for an upturn in the economy - it must be gut wrenching for these folks!!!
Words fail me
I feel very sorry fpr the 4 pilots taken for a ride - especially the one mentioned in the Times article.
While a few airlines are taking good care of their cadets in prep for an upturn in the economy - it must be gut wrenching for these folks!!!
Words fail me
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Police investigate alleged fraud at failed Varsity Express
From ATI News:
Police investigate alleged fraud at failed Varsity Express
Alan Dron, London (15Mar10, 18:27 GMT, 336 words)
Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding short-lived UK regional operator Varsity Express, whose services on the Oxford-Edinburgh route ceased after just a week.
Thames Valley Police, which covers the Oxford area, says that complaints have been received about the carrier and that the force's economic crimes unit is looking into allegations of fraud. Varsity Express started services at the beginning of the month but ceased on 8 March.
Police investigate alleged fraud at failed Varsity Express
Alan Dron, London (15Mar10, 18:27 GMT, 336 words)
Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding short-lived UK regional operator Varsity Express, whose services on the Oxford-Edinburgh route ceased after just a week.
Thames Valley Police, which covers the Oxford area, says that complaints have been received about the carrier and that the force's economic crimes unit is looking into allegations of fraud. Varsity Express started services at the beginning of the month but ceased on 8 March.
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Evidence of insanity
Damn Flybe37 you had a few of us fooled then...it might have just been the kind of evidence that shows MH is completely delusional. 
One thing is for sure, the police are not going to be deluded or so easily fooled by his antics...
One thing is for sure, the police are not going to be deluded or so easily fooled by his antics...
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