A startup airline company says it is planning to fly from Gary/Chicago International Airport to Washington D.C. and Newark.

Viza Air Inc. wants to start its air service catering to business travelers as soon as August from Gary to Reagan National Airport and in September to Newark Liberty International Airport, according to Viza Chairman Derric Price.

"Our target market is for business clients flying to Reagan National," Price said.

Price said he has obtained flight slots at Reagan National and Newark Liberty International. Viza Air would have two roundtrip flights per day between Gary and Washington, using Boeing 737-800s, Price said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation did not return calls seeking confirmation of Viza Air's obtaining two slots at Reagan National. The slots are highly coveted by airlines.

Gary/Chicago International Airport Director Chris Curry said he has been in discussions with Price about the airline.

The Gary airport authority will not be offering the airline marketing money as it has with some previous startups, Curry said. It may be able to offer some incentives such as a break on landing fees or others it has used in the past.

The airport authority is waiting for Price to deliver a business plan before moving forward, Curry said.

"Initially, there will be no out-of-pocket revenue going their way," Curry said.

Viza Air is in the process of raising $25 million in capital, Price said. It wants to raise $20 million from institutional investors and $5 million from small investors and businesspeople in northern Indiana, Price said.

The airline company does not currently fly any planes, Price said.

In addition to the Gary flights, Viza Air also plans to fly from South Bend to Reagan National and Boston, Price said.

Discussions between Viza Air and Reagan National are in the "very preliminary stage" and the airport is awaiting more information from the airline, according to Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

She said only the FAA or Department of Transportation can confirm if Viza Air had obtained slots at Reagan National.

South Bend Regional Director John Schalliol said he received a May 12 letter from Viza Air requesting information about landing fees and destinations the airport would like to add.

Since, then, he has not heard from the airline.

"I'm sure I told them service to Reagan National would be great," Schalliol said.

Price said airports like Gary are primed to become the new "hotspots" for business air travel and Viza Air wants to capitalize on that.

The airline will employ names for its flights rather than flight numbers, Price said. Those include the Obama Express, Notre Dame Express, and Manhattan Express.