London - A 19-year-old teenager who dropped out of his A-level studies has now launched his own airline.

Martin Halstead, who has been named “Baby Branson” after Virgin Atlantic honcho Sir Richard Branson, has said that the Alpha One Airways will start operations from November 21, carrying around 75,000 passengers.

Halstead, who quit the classroom to get his commercial pilot's licence, said that he came up with the idea while sitting at a coffee shop with friends, as getting a job in the industry was very difficult.

“It's very difficult to get a job in the industry at the moment so I thought I would start my own company. I'm probably the only airline boss in the UK who will actually fly the planes,” The Mirror quoted Halstead as saying.

“I'm numb at the moment. I find it so hard to believe, but it's fantastic,” he added.

Halstead, funded the project largely from the sale of his airline computer simulation software firm - upon which he was working since 15. As of now he has bought an 18-seater plane and plans to lease another for flights to Edinburgh and Cardiff.

The one way tariff from the Isle of Man to Blackpool and Southampton, has been fixed at 29 and 49 pounds plus taxes, including champagne and nibbles. Halstead said the company may look at the Cambridge to Oxford route next year.

Richard Branson has also given him advice on starting up, and Halstead is excited about being compared with him.

“I find it a huge compliment. Richard has been a huge inspiration to me and has given me a lot of advice. To be put in the same ball park as him is a real honor,” he added.

Also, Halstead told Forbes Magazine on growing into major airline: "I'd prefer to concentrate on our niche and doing small things well," he says with a tone of seriousness. "The big mistake airlines make is to grow too quickly and then end up in a lot of spilt blood." Ah, the wisdom of youth.

Background: Halstead started the new £500,000 airline after selling a flight simulations company which he set up when he was 15.

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