Stumbled across a non-aviation website recently for another venture involving Martin Halstead. His bio said he'd previously set up a Regional Airline and sold it at a huge profit.

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.

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.

Mind the gliders, Balloons, ultra lights, microlights, parachutists......in the FIR!

Have Air Southwest confirmed for 2010 summer as they encountered quite a few of the above whilst using Oxford at the weekend!

Mind the gliders, Balloons, ultra lights, microlights, parachutists......in the FIR!

Have Air Southwest confirmed for 2010 summer as they encountered quite a few of the above whilst using Oxford at the weekend!

Linksair
 

Nothing too wrong with them. Chartered a flight in December and used their J31. All went fine, good crew, good service, happy clients.

All you want really?

TB

Linksair
 

Nothing too wrong with them. Chartered a flight in December and used their J31. All went fine, good crew, good service, happy clients.

All you want really?

TB

The problem is not with the route but the operation.

Even if they were full you can't sustian an operation on a one aeroplane one route basis.

The route may be viable but needs an established operator for whom it would be just part of what the aeroplane does.

The problem is not with the route but the operation.

Even if they were full you can't sustian an operation on a one aeroplane one route basis.

The route may be viable but needs an established operator for whom it would be just part of what the aeroplane does.

Hansard, would you care to share that "non-aviation website" you mentioned?

22/04, every new operator has to start somewhere. On the face of it Oxford to Edinburgh seems like it could be a good start and I'm sure that Varsity don't plan to only fly this route once a day for ever more. I would imagine, that they'll already have ideas for at least their 2nd and 3rd route.

Hansard, would you care to share that "non-aviation website" you mentioned?

22/04, every new operator has to start somewhere. On the face of it Oxford to Edinburgh seems like it could be a good start and I'm sure that Varsity don't plan to only fly this route once a day for ever more. I would imagine, that they'll already have ideas for at least their 2nd and 3rd route.

I think Air Southwest have been replaced by CityJet for the Jersey flights this summer, not sure if the Baboo flights will be back again though, rumour has it the loads have been around 55% so far.

Just booked three sets of flights with Varsity for March and April, all very smooth and professional. If this Halestead chap is behind it he seems to have learnt his lessons from a few years ago, let's at least give him some credit, a year is a long time in politics and even longer in aviation. When did all that alpha air stuff happen anyway? I seem to remember it was a long while back. Wasn't there another young lad trying to run flights from Liverpool too a few years back?

Let's just sit it out and see how it goes. Oxford is a growing market. I look forward to my flights with great anticipation and I think we should be supporting new businesses during times like these.

I think Air Southwest have been replaced by CityJet for the Jersey flights this summer, not sure if the Baboo flights will be back again though, rumour has it the loads have been around 55% so far.

Just booked three sets of flights with Varsity for March and April, all very smooth and professional. If this Halestead chap is behind it he seems to have learnt his lessons from a few years ago, let's at least give him some credit, a year is a long time in politics and even longer in aviation. When did all that alpha air stuff happen anyway? I seem to remember it was a long while back. Wasn't there another young lad trying to run flights from Liverpool too a few years back?

Let's just sit it out and see how it goes. Oxford is a growing market. I look forward to my flights with great anticipation and I think we should be supporting new businesses during times like these.

Nah - no problem - so long as everyone behaves appropriately:D Anyway - at 0800 most GA flyers will still be having breakfast :E

Nah - no problem - so long as everyone behaves appropriately:D Anyway - at 0800 most GA flyers will still be having breakfast :E

He was the ultimate self publicist who promised loads but delivered diddly squat and left behing a lot of unhappy people. He sort of means well but hasnt got the experience or the ££££s to get this running.:{ Sad.

He was the ultimate self publicist who promised loads but delivered diddly squat and left behing a lot of unhappy people. He sort of means well but hasnt got the experience or the ££££s to get this running.:{ Sad.

Any pilots been taken on??

Wasn't too impressed by the deal - pay for your own rating and be bonded for 2 years...

Anyone attend the assessment day?

Any pilots been taken on??

Wasn't too impressed by the deal - pay for your own rating and be bonded for 2 years...

Anyone attend the assessment day?

Only airline I would see as being interested in such a route would be Manx2, given that they already fly to Gloucester (just an hour up the road) I don't think Oxford would be for them.

You've also got Flybe to Luton which isn't that far away either.