New Airline grounded at Coventry Airport
05.02.06
Alpha One Airways, the new airline launched by 19 year old Martin Halstead - dubbed the 'baby Branson' - has been grounded because of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) directive.
The airline has had a turbulent start since it announced plans to fly between the Isle of Man and Southampton, Blackpool and Edinburgh in October. The company made its maiden flight from Southampton to Ronaldsway in November, but the launch of the airline was delayed a month and the route altered because of staff training problems.
Mr Halstead said: 'A new CAA directive has forced us to get traffic collision avoidance systems fitted to our aircraft earlier than we had originally anticipated. As a result, our fleet has had to remain in the hangar at Coventry Airport while the work, which costs upwards of £150,000 per aircraft, is carried out.'
'Both planes are now nearing the completion of the fit and will be redelivered to the airline within the next few weeks.'
The company will announce its relaunch plans soon and resume its Isle of Man to Edinburgh schedule. It also plans to extend its route network to include Leeds and Cardiff but has withdrawn its Southampton route.
So far the company has made just under 20 flights between the Isle of Man and Edinburgh and carried 37 passengers in December.
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