The current ‘Space Age’ arguably began in the immediate post war ‘40s when V2s began to carry instruments above the atmosphere to determine Earth’s environment at high altitudes. A decade later orbital spaceflight began and yet another decade or so led to the first human presence on the moon. Since then there has been a more or less permanent, if small, human population in orbit around our planet.

In March of 2007 the United States and European Commission signed into effect the next round of Open Skies legislation. Using this legislation as the back drop, British Airways’ Willie Walsh sanctioned a project to look at and evaluate the feasibility of starting a new airline, within the group, that would seize the opportunity.