IRON MAIDEN frontman and pilot BRUCE DICKINSON has vowed to resurrect a UK airline which has gone into administration.

Dickinson flew for Astraeus Airlines, based at Crawley in West Sussex, and captained its last flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Manchester.

The singer is forming a plan to save the airline, which was owned by an Icelandic-based travel group. It is understood that the business would continue to work by leasing planes to major carriers to cover routes when needed, as it did previously.

"Firstly, I'm already working on a plan to try to save Astraeus, or at least create a new business with new jobs for my friends and former colleagues at Astraeus," Dickinson said. "This is a serious plan involving people who are very good at their jobs. I see the potential for a viable operation should acquisition of the company prove achievable."

Dickinson added that "a number of prospective investors" had expressed an interest in the company.

The pilot's comments come following suggestions he may have to return to music full-time. He plans to create 1,500 new jobs in the aerospace industry as part of an undisclosed project in South Wales, as well as a new flight training company.

He added: "I'm extremely upbeat about these opportunities, particularly the potential for a revival, in some form, of Astraeus. 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."