'Baby Branson' suspends flights

A SECOND airline launched by a young entrepreneur dubbed "baby Branson" has been forced to suspend flights after only one week, it was reported today.

Varsity Express, which was launched on 1 March and operated daily flights between Edinburgh and Oxford, has been grounded because it allegedly failed to pay aircraft bills. Some 500 passengers had made bookings.

It was reported that the owner of the single 18-seat aircraft used by Martin Halstead's second venture, Varsity Express, plans to pursue him for up to 20,000, the amount he said he is owed in unpaid bills.

Owner of Humberside-based Links Air, Jon Ibbotson, reportedly said: "I'm distraught with it all." Mr Halstead was not available for comment last night.