Legend Airlines Halts Service, Citing Losses

Legend Airlines, a start-up that said it lost about $1 million a week during its first six months of providing first-class service, suspended operations while it attempts to raise money. The company was talking with venture capital firms, other airlines and individual investors in search of “several million dollars” needed to resume flying by the end of the year, said T. Allan McArtor, president and chief executive. Delta, Continental, America West, Frontier and National have agreed to honor Legend tickets. Launched in 1996, Legend attempted to challenge Fort Worth-based American Airlines for business travelers in the Dallas-Fort Worth market by offering such first-class amenities as leather seats and in-flight satellite television aboard 56-seat jets. It billed itself as a luxury airline with coach ticket prices.