DOT says Vegas-based airline "fit, willing and able"

The U.S. Department of Transportation has found the airline to be "fit, willing and able" to provide scheduled interstate service.

A show cause order issued Tuesday gives outside parties 14 days to submit objections as to why the airline should not be licensed.

National was started by Michael Conway, co-founder and former chief executive officer of America West. National filed for the DOT certificate in October.

Conway announced last summer than he had acquired $50 million in start-up capital for the airline, including $15 million each from Harrah's and the Rio hotels.

"No answers have been received to National's application, and no other issues regarding the applicant have come to our attention," the DOT said in an order issued Tuesday. "Under these circumstances, we propose to decide the issue of the applicant's fitness on the basis of the written record, and we tentatively conclude that National is a U.S. citizen and is fit, willing and able to operate its proposed interstate scheduled passenger service."

National had intended to inaugurate nonstop service from McCarran International Airport initially to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York on four Boeing 757-200s in the first quarter of the year, but Conway said the time frame has been moved back about 60 days to complete the Federal Aviation Administration and DOT certification process.

The first of four aircraft to be leased by National is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas in early February from Sun Rock Leasing Co. in Ireland for "proving flights," said Dik Shimizu, director of corporate communications for the airline.

Conway is starting the airline at a time McCarran is experiencing stagnant air traffic growth, with airlines shifting their planes to more lucrative business routes.

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