Plane-mad teenager launches Oxbridge air service

A former schoolboy who gave up A-levels to achieve his childhood ambition of becoming a pilot has launched his own airline at the age of 18.

Martin Halstead yesterday announced his plan to operate a scheduled UK air service, one month short of his 19th birthday and while still living at home with his mother.

His company, Alpha 1 Airways, will operate a twice-daily service between Oxford and Cambridge, two cities linked by academia but not by a convenient road or rail network.

Using money left to him by his grandmother plus savings from various part-time jobs, Mr Halstead has succeeded in convincing the city airports and an Oxford-based aircraft operator to join him in the venture, which launches on April 18.

He said: "Flying has been my passion since I first boarded an aircraft at the age of six. I have never wanted to be anything other than a pilot, but I did not imagine that I would own an airline rather than fly for one."

Just over a year ago Mr Halstead was a sixth-form student at d'Overbroecks College in Oxford and on course for A-levels in business studies, history and English literature. He applied to join the Oxford Aviation Training School, not expecting to get a place until he had completed his academic studies.

"To my surprise I was offered the chance to start almost straight away. Such was my desire to become a pilot that I was given the backing of my parents and my principal to leave school without completing my A-levels."

He joined the course in January last year and is still training to become a commercial pilot. "Last summer I was joking with a friend that as my chances of getting a job in an over-subscribed industry were almost nil I might as well start my own airline."

From that chance remark an idea formed. Mr Halstead eventually decided on a service between Oxford, his home town, and Cambridge, knowing that both airports were already examining the feasibility of such a service.

He refuses to reveal how much money he has put into the project, although he admits it was a "shoestring budget".

Alpha 1 will charter eight-seat Piper Navajo Chieftains and crew from the operator AirMed, but will provide all the customer services including booking arrangements, telephones and website.

James Dillon-Godfray, the head of marketing and development at Oxford Airport, said: "There has not been a direct air link between Oxford and Cambridge since the late 1930s. We were looking at the idea of running a scheduled service when Martin knocked on our door. He is a very dynamic young man."

Mr Dillon-Godfray said dozens of academics, business people, students and tourists travelled between the two cities each weekday. A journey by car or train takes more than two hours but will be just 20 minutes by air, with single fares costing up to £49.

Mr Halstead said: "I hope this is just a beginning and that I can expand into other routes in time."

Details of the airline's service can be found at www.flyalpha1.com.