Australia’s brad pitches for crowd-funding

Australia may have a new domestic airline called “brad” in 2022 – that is, if its founders can raise at least AUD2.9 million (USD2.2 million) in non-refundable donations through crowd-funding to assist with start-up costs. The Perth-based company was registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) as the Airline Group Pty Ltd, d/b/a brad, on April 23, 2021, ch-aviation research revealed. According to information on its crowdfunding platform, brad proposes to operate an undisclosed number of twin-engine, single-aisle, narrowbodies on commercially viable domestic routes, promising fares as low as AUD50 (USD39) between East Coast cities and AUD100 (USD77) between Perth Int’l and the East Coast. An A321-100/-200 is pictured on the platform, but the actual aircraft type to be flown will be determined by availability and lease prices, the company says. Named after founding director Brad Coombe, the “People’s Airline”, in its crowd-funding pitch, promises to be up and running in 12 to 14 months to offer Australians “a better experience and easy, affordable, three-class travel” – but only if they make it happen. Non-refundable donations starting from AUD200 (USD155) to AUD100,000 (USD77,400) are sought in exchange for “free” future tickets and complimentary carry-on luggage, redeemable over three years once the airline starts flying. Investors will not be entitled to any shares or securities in brad. AUD1 million (USD774,000) is required for initial Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) procedures and to pay key staff, while AUD2.9 million is needed to complete certification and bring the first aircraft to Australia, the company says. Should brad not raise enough money, it will retain the donations while making “reasonable endeavours” to raise additional capital from other crowd-funding campaigns and/or other sources to complete its setup and launch. Donors take the risk of losing their contributions should the airline not materialise, the company confirms. “Whilst the company directors, managers and officers of the Airline Group Pty Ltd (trading as brad) will make reasonable endeavours to ensure the future success of brad becoming a new domestic airline in Australia, like any early-stage project, there is a risk that brad may experience changes, delays, unforeseen challenges, and it’s possible that brad may not come to fruition,” the small print reads. According to the company blurb, Coombe, a former pilot, has more than 40-years of “cutting edge” experience in the Australian airline/aerospace industry, having flown with Trans Australia Airlines (TN, Melbourne Tullamarine), Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur Int’l), and Compass Airlines (Australia) (YM, Brisbane Int’l). His LinkedIn page only lists him as a director at Fast Track Pilot Training in Perth. Coombe is being advised by fellow pilots Tony Clark and Deborah Lawrie, who became the first woman to become a pilot with a major Australian airline after winning a landmark gender discrimination case against Ansett Airlines of Australia (AN, Melbourne Tullamarine) in 1976.