CMH_Downtown

As long as you don't photograph anything security-related, like the TSA checkpoints or the CTX machines, you should be fine. Or, just call the airport and say you'd like to take photos in the terminal for a class project, that way they'll know ahead of time. I've done it before they've been okay with it.

Nothing can top Raising Cain's.

:-D

The airport is a fantastic place for watching emotions come out. Also, I would suggest the Ohio State University campus and surrounding areas, especially the stretch of High St. bordering the campus.

And here's the letter I sent to the Mayor's office a year and a half ago that I posted on here: I wonder if preparing a follow-up letter would be in bad taste, even if they did brush me aside a year and a half ago.

Well, I must say, it happened sooner than I thought. My heart aches for all those involved (I've been through it twice already), but I hate to say I told you so... Skybus shuts down, cancels all flights Friday, April 4, 2008 - 8:20 PM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines, a Columbus carrier that excited central Ohio travelers with its $10 fares, is calling it quits. The news came quickly today, with the airline planning to announce at 9:30 p.m. that it will no longer be in business Saturday. After today, all flights are canceled. Those holding tickets for future flights are advised to contact their credit card companies about obtaining refunds. Skybus is not providing alternate transportation. Those who purchased trip insurance within the last month should make any claims through the Skybus insurance provider, AIG TravelGuard. The policy that went into effect in early March covers airline-caused cancellations; the previous policy did not. As of today, Skybus was making 80 daily flights to 15 cities around the U.S. It made its first flight from its home base at Port Columbus on May 22 of last year and opened a second base in Greensboro, N.C. in January. Skybus has approximately 450 employees. Of those, 350 are based in Columbus, with the remainder in Greensboro. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

I wonder if yesterday was the last straw. Tuesday's are generally scheduled to operate with fewer flights, yet even with the breathing room it looks like it was an operational disaster yesterday, with several flights running 3-4+ hours late. Either way, things are sounding critical over at the Skybus camp.

Pro's: *Pass programs might more easily include the streetcar *Better integration with existing or augmented COTA bus lines *Possible cost savings by using existing COTA funding and resources *Future rail construction and integration into existing/augmented system could come quicker/easier Con's: *COTA's less the stellar record in managing their own system *Bus needs might come before streetcar needs I do think the "pro's" outweigh the "con's" in this situation, but the "con's" would certainly need to be addressed if COTA does indeed take on the responsibility of running the Columbus streetcars.

I should be able to make it. I'd like nothing more than to see this venture get off the ground and show everyone the perks of rail transportation right here in our own city.

So far, Delta and Delta Connection will cut the following routes from CVG: Cincinnati - Bangor, ME Cincinnati - Burlington, VT Cincinnati - Colorado Springs, CO Cincinnati - Jackson, MS Many routes are also seeing frequency reductions, but those have not been completely tallied up yet.

Well, thanks to Skybus, CMH is getting hit hard by Delta's efforts to cut costs and park planes. Already announced were plans to cut Ft. Lauderdale service, now we're loosing: Columbus to Ft. Myers (Ends 01MAY) Columbus to Tampa (Ends 03JUN) Columbus to Hartford (Ends 05JUN) Columbus to Los Angeles (will not return for the summer as scheduled) Delta already said the termination of their FLL service was in part thanks to Skybus, now we're loosing even more. What's most disconcerting is the loss of Hartford service, as this severes business ties with another large insurance market. Now all we have is bastardized service to Chicopee. This is absolutely disgusting. I forecasted this a year ago, and hoped that Skybus would be gone before it was too late, but with oil prices speeding the process up, it appears it's too late.

In addition, their Burbank flight goes to 6x weekly service, not operating on Wednesdays.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:34 AM EDT Skybus cuts, reduces Columbus flights Business First of Columbus - Business First http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/03/17/daily20.html?jst=b_ln_hl A spike in jet fuel costs has prompted Skybus Airlines Inc. to discontinue or reduce service from Columbus to five cities it had planned to include in its route system next month, the company said Wednesday. The locally based discount airline has scrapped plans to add service April 1 to Niagara Falls (N.Y.) International Airport and make a second daily flight to Milwaukee. Skybus also will cut service April 15 between Columbus and Chattanooga (Tenn.) Metropolitan Airport and eliminate one of its two daily flights each to Stewart International Airport, north of New York, and to Chicopee, Mass. More at link above:

Skybus adjusts flight schedule Wednesday, March 19, 2008 3:05 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/19/skybus_cuts.ART_ART_03-19-08_C8_UB9MDN4.html?sid=101 Skybus Airlines won't fly to Niagara Falls, N.Y., after all. The Columbus-based airline this morning opened sales from Aug. 1 to Sept. 2, and in the process made promised schedule changes on service from its home city as well as the others it serves. Gone is the Port Columbus-to-Niagara Falls route planned to begin April 1. More at link above:

Wow, that's pretty impressive!

Skybus' website might have leaked their new routes early. Their flight status tool is showing new flights between: Richmond and St. Augustine (Jacksonville) Chicopee (Hartford) and St. Augustine (Jacksonville) Chicopee (Hartford) and Punta Gorda (Fort Myers) Portsmouth (Boston) and Stewart/Newburgh (New York) If this is indeed the case, it will be interesting to see how much flights from CMH begin to suffer. Even though the airline does not sell connections, many people do in fact make their own. It was evident when Skybus began point-to-point flights from PSM to Florida and the resulting passenger load drop on their CMH-PSM flights. CEF and RIC to CMH are relatively weak as it is, it will be interesting to see how much offering P2P routes from these cities canibalizes their flights to CMH.

Hopefully some of the new players in town like Latitude 41 and Rosendale's will make this list in time.

I was concerned that we'd get a vinyl siding eyesore too! Though to be honest, it seems like Lifestyle Communities has really embrased the downtown environment. First the invested in PromoWest Pavillion, secondly they're in the process of completing their new corporate headquarters in the Arena District, and now they've announced their first downtown housing. If only more suburban companies could follow in their footsteps, we'd be in good shape.

Key proposals Mayor Michael B. Coleman looked forward with several policies and proposals in his state of the city speech last night. Safety: • Police will enforce the city's midnight curfew against those 17 or younger. • Video cameras will help police catch criminals in neighborhoods and at major events. Transportation: • He'll lay out how to pay for a streetcar line on March 27. • The city will spend $20 million to build 86.3 miles of bike routes and trails by 2012. Downtown: • The High Street side of City Center will be replaced with a retail "Town Square." • The city will offer incentives to redevelop High Street through Downtown with shops, offices and housing. • The City Center walkway over High Street will be demolished. Jobs: • Columbus, Whitehall, Gahanna and the airport authority will work together to develop the area around Port Columbus. • "Green jobs" will be a priority, backed by city incentives. Full text of the State of the City address: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/13/fulltext.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

STATE OF THE CITY Mayor of 'hip' city seeks streetcars, child curfew Friday, March 14, 2008 3:31 AM By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Mayor Michael B. Coleman declared the end of Cowtown last night. But his prescription for a "hip and cool" Columbus renaissance, laid out in his ninth State of the City address, had a decidedly retro feel. Streetcars running from the Franklin County Courthouse to Ohio State University. People strolling Downtown, along a High Street lined with shops and through a Scioto River park with chess and domino tables. "America's 21st Century City," as the mayor is fond of calling Columbus, "must maintain its Midwestern values of family, honesty and hard work." Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/14/stateofcity.ART_ART_03-14-08_A1_EK9L17S.html?sid=101

Cheaper Downtown housing Rentals, condos being designed, priced to draw young professionals Friday, March 14, 2008 3:23 AM By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A local developer plans to build a $25 million apartment and condominium project south of the old Lazarus building, continuing a renaissance in the city's RiverSouth district. Lifestyle Communities plans to begin work this summer on 130 apartments and 76 condominiums that will be marketed to young people who can't afford some of the other Downtown living options. The units are expected to open in winter 2010. The project will cover two parking lots sandwiched between the Lazarus building and the former Lazarus parking garage. The residences are part of the RiverSouth transformation that will include: • Restoration of the former Lazarus department store, which has been converted primarily to office space. • Construction of the Scioto Mile, a mile-long park along the Scioto River that stretches into RiverSouth. That project is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2011. • The city's development of a 773-space garage at the southeast corner of Rich and Front streets. • Conversion of a portion of Front Street to two-way traffic. • Creation of a pedestrian-friendly environment along Wall Street. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/14/Downtown_condos.ART_ART_03-14-08_C10_BR9L008.html?sid=101

Nah, FLYi went kaput in January of '06. Most signage was taken down immediately after. In fact, I helped load the counter signage into the trunk of one of my coworker's car. If anything was left behind with the Independence Air name, it was airport-owned signage, like in the baggage claim area or on the departures/arrivals level.

"Finally" being the operative word. In my opinion, MCI should've been scuttled long ago. CHA should never have been considered. BLI, SAN, OAK, and even BUR were just plain dumb. And I'm not saying that they shouldn't do it so as not to offend people, but the fact of the matter is it will put off a lot of people that are warry about their air travel investment. I fail to see how that's a good thing. Traditionally, the introduction of a low cost carrier to a market spurrs competition and low fares. A great example is the introduction of AirTran to the Dayton-Atlanta market. In order to maintain their share of the market, Delta priced their fares to match AirTran and added flights in an effort to force AirTran out. The market responded favorably to both, and now the market is extremely well served with multiple flights by both carriers at very affordable fares. With Skybus, the competition can't match fares, so you have an extreme dichotomy with Skybus' insanely low fares and traditional carriers' "high" fares. As we've seen in several markets now, such as MCI, FLL, and NYC, Skybus actually decreases competition and leaves us with lower fares, but far substandard service. They definitely should have started FLL when they had the chance, though JFK would've been a given anyways, since most everything still revolves around their main base. It's interesting to note that all their logos are still up at their counter and baggage service office, I can't help but wonder if they might be waiting to see if the Columbus market makes another drastic change which offers them the opportunity to return.

Some comments: Say goodbye to Kansas City and Chattanooga, at least. Depending on how drastic the cuts will be, throw in Milwaukee and Richmond as well. The latter two at least should see one of their daily flights cut. This sends off huge warning signs. Read a few Dispatch articles back; Skybus was hailed for their being able to schedule as much flying within a day by scheduling everything based on 25-minute turn arounds. They have finally figured out that they can't do it and expect to run an ontime schedule. However, with more ground time, these aircraft aren't making money sitting on the ground, Mr. Diffenderffer said so himeself. I wonder what "relatively small" means. Relatively small in comparison to other routes being kept? Systemwide loads? Either way, it's yet another group of disenfranchised travelers who will now have to seek other options completely, since Skybus cannot reroute them on themselves or on another carrier. Not to mention the amount of potential travelers that will think twice about purchasing on Skybus until the impending cuts are actually announced. That sounds promising. If things don't improve one way or another, look for that route to go the way of the dodo sooner rather than later. Again, huge warning signs. Skybus is again straying away from their original model. Supposedly, under the Ryanair model, you route everything back to your focus city all day so that crews and maintenance can all be done in one place. The more point-to-point flying they do, the more chances of having to overnight crews in other cities as well as schedule fowl-ups if a plane goes on maintenance in another city. In addition, Mr. Diffenderffer hints that Florida is doing well for Skybus. That's all well and good, but the number of flights and destinations from Columbus to Florida and very finite. That means if more expansion is likely to existing Florida destinations, it's not going to be from Columbus. If more Florida cities are added, CMH will likely receive some new nonstops, but like I said, there are only so many places they can go before they just run out of places to grow. So the airline either becomes stagnant in growth or has to look outside Columbus for a place that actually can support the growth they need to survive. In short, I refer everyone back to a post I made last year regarding this exact same scenario:

Stick a fork in them... Skybus throttles back on growth Airline weighs fuel costs, recession in its plans to cut and add flights Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:19 AM By Amy Saunders and Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines is slowing its rate of expansion and will cut flights because of rising fuel costs and fears of a recession. But the Columbus-based airline said it will add some flights, too, when it announces plans within two weeks for service beginning in August. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/13/skybus_retrench.ART_ART_03-13-08_C12_UB9KE8O.html?sid=101