| Several months ago, in a related article, I made | | | | these particular aircraft arrive in 2008, Primaris |
| mention of two start up air carriers for the US | | | | reportedly will be leasing three additional 757 aircraft |
| market. Since then, both EOS Airlines and Maxjet | | | | and begin scheduled service between New York, Los |
| Airways have taken flight and are successfully | | | | Angeles, and San Francisco by the middle of 2006. |
| serving their passengers and making plans for future | | | | Virgin America -- Pending government approval, Virgin |
| expansion. Beyond these two carriers, additional | | | | America will fly upwards of 105 Airbus aircraft. Based |
| carriers are waiting to take their first flights. Let's | | | | in San Francisco, the Richard Branson inspired airline |
| take a look at some leading contenders. | | | | must overcome some hurdles first including convincing |
| Fly First Class -- This Florida based air carrier is | | | | the US government that the airline is, indeed, mostly |
| planning to use Wilmington, NC as its base. With | | | | US owned. |
| flights to Bermuda and London planned, the airline -- | | | | Other start up carriers which are also being watched |
| true to its name -- will offer only one level of service, | | | | include: Blackstar Airlines, USA Jet Airlines, and Baltia |
| first class. Expected first flight is sometime during the | | | | Air Lines. All start ups must secure key funding, |
| second quarter of 2006. | | | | receive various federal and local governmental |
| Primaris Airlines -- Already FAA approved and the | | | | approvals, organize a management team, and |
| owner of a single Boeing 757 aircraft which they | | | | commence hiring well before the first flight is made. |
| currently are leasing to another carrier, Primaris placed | | | | It is this particular process that shakes out all the |
| an order in January 2005 for Boeing's new Dreamliner | | | | pretenders leaving behind carriers committed to |
| aircraft, also known as the 787. Before the first of | | | | making a go of it. |