Article from BTNews 8 MARCH 2010
Varsity takes off AND LANDS WITH A BUMP!
VARSITY AIRWAYS took off last Monday, initially offering a daily return service from Oxford to Edinburgh. Managing Director Martin Halstead said he was delighted with forward bookings noting that the frequency will be doubled on 5 April and with Newcastle included in the schedule. What was apparent on this first service was the suitability of the Jetstream 31 for the route, at least from a passenger point of view. The original Handley Page designers got it right offering a comfortable 1+2 layout in the fully pressurised aircraft with a toilet at the rear. It affords a comfortable if slightly noisy ride, a 250 mph cruising speed reducing the airborne time between Oxford to Edinburgh to 75 minutes. Just over 450 Jetstreams were built making it arguably the most successful British passenger aircraft of all time.
ADDED AM TUESDAY 9 MARCH
Varsity Express regrettably announce as of 3 o'clock today March 8th 2010 the suspension of scheduled services on their Oxford to Edinburgh route.
The reason for this suspension is due to operational issues between Varsity Air Services Ltd and the airline and AOC holder who have been contracted to operate the Jetstream 31 type on our behalf and that was being used on the route. All further ticket sales have been suspended until further notice. All passengers effected by the suspension of service either have been or are currently being informed of the situation.
The policy of Varsity Air Services Ltd has always been to protect the interests of its passengers at all times and therefore the company from the onset of ticket sales entered into a voluntary passenger revenue protection scheme involving an Escrow agent account. All passenger revenue relating to flights not completed is protected by this scheme independently and all money relating to un-flown revenue can be refunded in full if necessary.
The board of Varsity Air Services Ltd are in current negotiation with potential aircraft operators and AOC holders who could provide the operational capability required to allow the resumption of services, on what has already proved to be a very popular, viable and sustainable route. The board are hopeful that Varsity Air Services Ltd will be able to resume full operational services in the very near future. For further information contact the Varsity call centre on 0871 644 0450.
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