Swiss Skies (Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH) seeks USD100 million in start-up capital to launch low-cost long-haul services out of Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH initially to the United States, the Financial Times has reported. If the company's fundraising drive succeeds, it could launch in mid-2019.

Swiss Skies is a tentative name for the project which, once launched, would have another branding.

The carrier intends to operate Airbus A321neo(LR) aircraft exclusively. Swiss Skies plans to operate sixteen such aircraft by the end of its second year of operations, growing to thirty-eight by the fourth year.

While the initial focus would be on the US market, in the mid-term Swiss Skies foresees services to the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and Brazil. The founders hinted that one of the initial destinations could be Cincinnati International, which - much like Basle - has a significant pharmaceutical industry.

Swiss Skies would focus on second-tier airports to avoid direct competition with the established airlines and lower its cost base. It does not plan to serve the UK due to Brexit-related uncertainties.

According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Basle's current long-haul passenger network is limited to Air Transat's summer service to Montréal Trudeau.