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Start up problems have not escaped the notice of the BBC. I wonder why he "gave up A levels to become a pilot"
Is there a judgement process failure here?
What advice did mum and dad give him in this regard?

I must admit I wouldn't trust that airline in the slightest to get me anywhere. I'm fairly confident that it won't be around by April. It would be fantastic for it to succeed but my gut instinct gives an overwhelming no. For that reason theres not a chance in hell I would book a flight on it. When airlines go tits up, you lose your money and if it should happen at the wrong time, your stranded. And for god's sake; being stranded in the Isle Of Man! They eat their own children for christs sake. :}

Jesus --- God ,Christ and hell in the same post.

Its not the poor boy's fault, he's just trying to copy the same managment practices as he seen at bmi...unfortunately he hasn't got the same amount of cash to waste.

Im a mil pilot and therefore have no idea about the running of any airline or load factors. However I do admire balls in anyone and this bloke has them so good for him, give the guy a break ffs hope it all works for him and if it does Ill apply for a job with him in a few years. If it doesnt I'm sure he ll take the lessons learnt and start something else but to slag him off is not needed. I hope and if Branson has anything to do with it I m sure he has he has got the right people in crew/engineers/ IT who will hold on through the rough times and see it through.

The guy has ambition and wants to play in the airline game, for which nobody can fault him. Many ppruners would give their right arm to head up and airline so, on that score, fair play to the youngster.

I'm afraid that's where the praise stops. Probably through no fault of his own, other than being naieve about what it takes to set up an airline, he has found himself with a monster on his hands - high levels of self-inflicted publicity, non-delivery and therefore scepticism and ridicule.

Nobody would expect a 19 year old kid to know what is involved in getting an airline up and running (there is no "Observers Book of Setting Up Your Own Airline" or Ladybird "Making Airlines 1-2-3") so somebody/organisation must be behind him, assisting and pointing him in the "right" direction by advising on what needs to be done to get an airline up and running. There are no problems with the ideas and route plans (although I doubt a J31 has the necessary performance for a full load at SOU on a warm day) - properly structured, marketed and operated, IOM to EDI and SOU will work (and have worked before). The will to operate on these routes is fine and viable (the easy part of being an airline), doing it legally within the regulatory requirements is more complex and therefore unthinkable for a novice to direct on his own without major assistance from an established airline or experienced airline people.

Issues which delay start up dates don't just appear at the last minute unless they have overlooked them - if they have no crew, then that is bad planning. If they have no call centre, again bad planning. However, if "paperwork" or "approvals" have caused the delay, that is questionable advice from someone who should have known what is needed to get it running.

First, find a good consultant or ex-airline manager to provide the experience needed - there are many ex-airline old guys out there whould woul dlove to dabble in this. Then find a reputable airline willing to wet lease an aircraft and crew on a flight hour basis and look after all the operating issues. Paint the aircraft in your colours. Forget about AOC's, post holding positions, CAA approvals, recruitment, training etc. That's for the future. Call yourself a ticket provider and get a cheap web-only booking system. Give yourself at least a month's selling before your first flight but make sure that first flight happens and that everyone booking with you knows that it will. Get out of the limelight while plans are built and confirmed. Build confidence based on real deliverable plans, rather than just gaining publicity because you're a 19 year old with a dream. Good luck.

The comparison with Branson doesn't seem to work with me. Branson used someone else's model for an airline called British Atlantic but changed it to Virgin Atlantic as there were 'too many BA's.'

If anything, what Martin is trying to do is more ambitious start an airline from scratch but because there is no plan to follow like Branson had it seems a bit susceptible to change!

To be honest, I can't believe his financial backers are putting up with this constant change of business plan!

Perhaps he should go on the 'Dragons Den' BBC2????

I wonder if the entrepreneurs there would invest??

He is also trying to operate routes that others have dropped in a market which is unique, there is no where like the Isle of Man, wait till the locals and the polititions get the knives out over these launch delays.

Are you kidding?!?!? It could take off from my back yard!

Perhaps, as hey there, recommended, the project needs rescuing!
We can help. Mr Halstead; please feel free to pm me .

Miserable old gits the lot of you. This is a typical British atitude, oh he has a shot of doing well, and making something of himself, well lets put that to a stop!

To the people concerned that are negative, have you at first hand experience ran a business? Most businesses have start up problems.

Shame on you all, this guy is really trying hard here to be a success so leave him alone. He is a pilot as well, and will probably end up flying in his own airline too. Why not I say!

I for one would gladly fly for him. :ok: :

Did he complete his training? I don't think he's fully qualified.

Lets hope it doesn't get too foggy because he might not be allowed to fly the plane.

Edit, seems the website is online. It looks rather nice in my opinion.

I just wish he'd stop this self proclamtion as the new Branson. Martin is cleary the designer of the website, he's had a lot of experience doing it in the past.

More business names
 

Last week it was Alpha One Airways (manx) ltd, now its One Aviation (Manx) Ltd. Strange no listing on Companies House but there is

ONE AVIATION LIMITED
UNIT 10 ROBJOHNS HOUSE
NAVIGATION ROAD
CHELMSFORD
ESSEX CM2 6ND

Formed in Aug 2005?

Perhaps the lad's being steamrollered by the manx mafia?

Every single link from the front page still "under construction" (including link to "new website launched").

Company name mis-spelt on front page.

:rolleyes:

I don't have much time for people who go around telling everybody what they're going to do. I prefer those who can tell you what they have accomplished. Tommorrow's promises will not pay for today's groceries.

So my advice to young Martin Halstead, get your aircraft airborne and then tell everyone about it (once you have decided on a route, that is!). Most passengers will want to wait and see that you can afford to fly the route empty before risking their hard earned cash on your startup. The ability to fly empty for three months, also known as 'building the route', should be covered by your startup fund. If you cannot afford to fly empty for at least three months, don't even bother going any further. The only time you don't need it is when you are taking over a mature route. The last time that happened was when Eastern went on the HUY-ABZ route, which was abandoned by KLM.

Starting an airline with no prior experience will prove extremely difficult and the public doesn't need (or want) a blow by blow account about every setback you suffer. You realised that the PA-31 is a non starter, soon you will realise that the J-31 is no different, just a 'J' instead of a 'PA'. These aircraft are all museum pieces. To provide low fares, you need a modern turboprop. The J31 isn't one, which is why you won't see £49 fares on Eastern !

Richard Branson wasn't 19 when he started Virgin Atlantic, so I guess you have a a few more years to learn this trade properly !

CG

charterguy You beat me to the point! :* The phrase "the young Branson" and variations on it are a useful shot cut for the media to use. It allows them to have shorter headlines (spoken or printed) but does nothing to illuminate the story.

Halstead is not a new Branson and I say that not because I have any opinion about him or wish him to fail but because it is inaccurate.

Branson started his first business whilst at school and Halstead also did this. RB built his business (slowly and steadily) into a world-wide success and this meant that he travelled on many airlines around the globe. This meant that he saw that they were fat and lazy and that the market was ready for competition. Aged 34, he set about providing that competition and has succeeded.

It is well known that the airline world is just about the most difficult to get into and if Halstead had set up a twin turbo-prop single route and just started delivering, then he would be well on his way. Whilst one can learn about business on paper, it is only through delivering service to customers that you can learn about customer service!

--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

charterguy - quote - 'These aircraft are all museum pieces. To provide low fares, you need a modern turboprop. The J31 isn't one, which is why you won't see £49 fares on Eastern !'

But you will see it at Highland Airways! They operate 3 J31 and have fares starting from £35.....
Edited to remove link to commercial site.

quote 'I don't have much time for people who go around telling everybody what they're going to do.....'

You sound very arrogant, making a statement like that. Had it not occured to you that it is publicty, and it is free advertising? I've only heard about him by reading the paper, and may I say it was a very positive article about him. I've not read any negative publicity about it, so I'm surprised why you are so negative.

I wouldn't even know about the airline otherwise, so it has worked, and people know about a new airline which is soon starting up.

I'd be surprised if the route is empty since he has had so much publicity.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Sir Richard was already a successful businessman with an established and widely-recognised brand (ie, the Virgin music business) before he so much as set foot in the airline business.

Preston Watson

That is exactly the problem. Nobody knows what this route will be, it seems to change every five minutes. Why would I book a ticket from EDI to IOM, only to find out three weeks later that the airline will now fly NCL-IOM, or maybe BLK-IOM, or maybe .....-....., .......-......, ........-...... (feel free to insert as many IATA codes as you can think of).

The point is that Halstead appears to know very little about this industry, and I have feeling that that goes for his financial backer too, otherwise he/she would invest the money into a brand new Fiat Punto instead :D :D :D

CG