Avatar Airlines turns to crowdfunding

Avatar Airlines (Las Vegas McCarran) has launched a crowdfunding initiative to help raise the USD5 million it requires to get operations off the ground. The Nevadan start-up is offering various incentives to investors who contribute between USD5 and USD9,750 in capital.

Descended from the failed Family Airlines (Las Vegas McCarran), Avatar last year said it would require up to USD300 million in funding to acquire a fleet of thirty B747-400s which it intends to configure with 539 seats in economy and 42 in business class. Thereafter, the budget carrier plans to operate scheduled domestic US services connecting San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas McCarran, Honolulu, San Diego Int'l, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami Int'l, Orlando Int'l, Tampa Int'l, New York JFK, Philadelphia Int'l, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles Int'l, and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin.

Avatar applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity along with Interstate Scheduled authority early last year.