Unfortunately it looks as if the tiny airline formed at Oxford Airport to operate flights to Edinburgh and elsewhere might win the record of being Britain’s shortest-lived airline.
Many other airlines have failed to make it past the planning stages, and some of these have been little more than scams to get money from investors, but Varsity Express actually managed to operate services for a full week. A notice on their website today says that owing to a problem with the company sub-contracted to perform the flights, all services are suspended until further notice. They say they are attempting to find an alternative company.
We shall see.
Tags: Varsity Express
“a problem with the company sub-contracted to perform the flights” makes it sound as though that company was somehow deficient. The problem was with Varsity Express, not with the company that Varsity contracted to operate flights on their behalf. Varsity did not own an aircraft, and did not have the necessary certification from the UK authorities to operate flights. So it asked another certificated carrier to provide pilot and plane. However, it evidently neglected to pay them.
Our original post was based on the official explanation from Varisty Express. Whilst it is possible – indeed highly likely – there is more to the story than this, we should add that the comment from a reader (above) regarding payments is his opinion. Inside Traveller has not seen any public statement to confirm this.