| The Boeing 737 is the standard
workhorse of the no-frills operator. But with
a catalogue price of some Ј30-40m, your Prince's
Trust young enterprise grant is going to be
stretched. A simpler solution is to go to
one of the world's top two leasing companies
- International Lease Finance Corporation
or GE Capital - and borrow a couple of ageing
aircraft.
However, renting a plane is a good deal
tougher than renting a car or a video. Leasing
firms don't release their 40-tonne machines
to any Tom, Dick or Harry.
Toby Nicol, director of corporate affairs
at EasyJet, says: "Depending on how
progressive they are, they may either laugh
at you or think you're the next Stelios.
What they think of you will determine the
fee."
With a sharp suit, a bit of sweet-talking
and a lot of luck, the big boys could be
persuaded to hand over an initial two 737s
- enough for an embryonic airline - for
perhaps $150,000 (Ј100,000) a month.
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