US Airways close to $1bn in new financing By Caroline Daniel in Chicago Published: May 15 2005 20:08 | Last updated: May 15 2005 20:08 America West and US Airways are finalising details of a wide-ranging financing package that could provide more than $1bn in new financing for their proposed merger, including up to $500m in equity, helping to address fears about their weak balance sheets. Details could emerge as early as this week. The two airlines are seeking three or four equity investors who would put in $125m each. The preliminary list includes Air Canada, Par Capital, a leading financial investor in America West, and Air Wisconsin, a regional partner, according to several people involved in the talks. Roger EWROPS