Startup airline having trouble getting money

(Tulsa-AP) -- A Tulsa-based startup airline is struggling to raise ten (m) million dollars to complete financing of its regional jet service to the East Coast.<br><br>Great Plains Airlines has already

Friday, February 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- A Tulsa-based startup airline is struggling to raise ten (m) million dollars to complete financing of its regional jet service to the East Coast.

Great Plains Airlines has already postponed the March start of service from Oklahoma City and Tulsa directly to Washington and New
York.

Company attorney David Johnson says Great Plains has secured 15 (m) million dollars in funding from Bank of Oklahoma.

But the airline needs ten (m) million dollars more to get tax credits from the state, which kick in when the airline has 25 (m) million dollars raised.

A company official says Great Plains has support from Tulsa's airport.

Company partners Jim Swartz and J-H Knight say they may move to another state if they can't raise enough money in Oklahoma by May
31st.

The company had hoped to eventually expand service to the West Coast as well.