The no-frills airline with no planes

IT has no planes, or airports to fly them to. But that hasn't stopped today's launch of another budget airline - only this one aims to revolutionise the way we get around Britain.

Hop Airways is the brainchild of Tony Camacho, a former director of airline Buzz, and Kit Malthouse, a London councillor and head of a finance company.

The idea of launching a low-cost, cross-Britain airline came to Malthouse after another day stuck in traffic on the M1. 'Getting around the UK is awful,' he said. 'Trains are too expensive, congestion on the roads is getting worse and flying is only an option if you are travelling major routes.'

With no aviation experience, he cheerfully admits that it was 'a leap in the dark' when he phoned Camacho with his idea. Naturally, Camacho thought that Malthouse was 'a nutcase'.

But the two are on the verge of making the idea reality. Hop intends to lease three 70-seater planes and is in talks with 'four or five airports'. The pair plan to announce the destinations within the next few months.

Fares will range from £10 to £80 and passengers will be able to just turn up and go. Food and drink will be available to buy during the short flights and seating will be allocated, avoiding a Ryanair-style scrum.

'Check-in will be only 20 minutes because the planes and the airports will be very small,' declared Camacho.

Malthouse has provided the seed funding, but Hop has signed up Cavendish Corporate Finance to raise funds from City institutions, wealthy individuals and unnamed 'national transport institutions'.

Malthouse admits that there is an element of risk in setting up an airline and that Hop's management team will be vital in making it work.

But rival Ryanair is unconcerned. 'There's talk of airlines being launched all the time, but they never amount to anything,' said a spokesman. 'It won't be keeping us awake at night.'