Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson says he is working on a rescue plan for UK charter carrier Astraeus Airlines, which ceased operations yesterday.
The heavy metal star, who flew as a pilot for the Crawley-based company, told The Guardian he was forming a plan to save the airline or create a new business employing "friends and former colleagues at Astraeus".
The carrier, which is wholly-owned by an Icelandic group which also owns budget carrier Iceland Express, called in administrators yesterday. It had been leasing aircraft to other airlines – including Iceland Express and bmi – and operating ad hoc flights for other carriers when needed, but blamed lower-than-expected business for its decision to close the business.
Dickinson said it could still be a viable operation and "a number of prospective investors" had expressed an interest in the company.
He told The Guardian: "The enthusiasm is also fuelled by the deluge of messages I received from the second I switched on my phone after landing the last Astraeus flight on Monday, and, of course, the interest of a number of prospective investors.
"I will be back at the controls of a commercial airliner before I am very much older – but I may also be at the controls of the company that operates that airliner, and others like it."
By Linsey McNeill
