Big launch for Avatar Airlines

A new start-up airline based in Florida is betting on using larger aircraft to enable it to reduce fares and mount some serious competition to its low-cost rivals. By operating a 747, reconfigured with 539 seats in the main cabin and 42 Office Class seats on the upper deck, Avatar Airlines claims to be able to offer fares of 50% or more below the lowest fares currently available. More details will emerge after the press conference later this week.