A rescue deal for Silverjet, the failed UK all-business- class airline, moved a step closer last night with an agreement on “principal terms” between the administrator and a group of private investors.

Nigel Atkinson and Mark Fry of Begbies Traynor, joint administrators for Silverjet since its collapse two weeks ago, said they had reached a preliminary deal with Kingplace, an Irish registered company, to “acquire and relaunch Silverjet”.