Entrepreneur to Gamble With Vegas Carrier

The former chief of America West Airlines plans to start a new airline based in Las Vegas that is scheduled to start offering nonstop flights from major U.S. cities by early 1999. Mike Conway, who helped start America West Airlines and served as its chief executive before leaving in 1993, said he has obtained more than $50 million to support the venture, to be called National Airlines. Backers include Rio Hotel & Casino Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., which have invested $22 million, and Wexford Management, whose affiliates have invested $7 million. Conway said his airline will use four Boeing 757s to fly about 25,000 passengers a month from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami. He hopes to draw up to 75,000 passengers a month by the end of the carrier’s first year in service. The new airline is likely to face stiff competition from carriers serving Las Vegas, the largest being America West and Southwest Airlines Co.