From Business First of Columbus, 1/2/06:

 

 

SkyBus aims for 2006 flight as latest low-cost carrier

Brian R. Ball

Business First

 

Bill Diffenderffer has spent the last 25 years in an industry that loses billions of dollars annually.

 

On top of that, his industry gets heavy scrutiny from government regulators and has few proven business models for profitable operations. Yet Diffenderffer, a seasoned veteran of the U.S. travel industry, agreed in June to serve as chief executive of SkyBus Airlines, a proposed low-cost airline that would fly out of Port Columbus International Airport

 

He enters 2006 trying to complete a fundraising drive for the $100 million needed to launch by fall.

 

More at:

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/01/02/story8.html

 

Skybus getting closer to takeoff

Low-fare carrier raises $100 million; service likely to start within a year

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Paul Wilson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Skybus Airlines, a low-fare carrier formed in Columbus during rough times for the aviation industry, is closer to reality.

 

The company yesterday said it has raised about $100 million from investors, enough to fund the airline’s startup and keep it on schedule for passenger service within a year.

 

Full story at:

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/22/20060322-D1-01.html

Long story short, don't expect this to last longer than 3 quarters; a year at max. It's doomed to failure.

STATE, LOCAL INCENTIVES

Cash could ease airline’s debut

Officials offer $57 million to help Skybus spread its wings from Port Columbus

Friday, September 22, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose and Paul Wilson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Efforts to create a Columbus-based airline received a major boost yesterday when local and state officials offered plans to contribute $57 million to help get the airline started.

 

Officials said the investment in Skybus might help create as many as 1,000 jobs within three years, while producing an annual economic impact of $600 million.

 

Full story at:

http://dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/22/20060922-A1-02.html

From the 9/23/06 Dispatch:

 

 

Skybus facing a tight deadline

Airline officials need regulatory OKs quickly to start in spring

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose and Paul Wilson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Skybus Airlines doesn’t have much time to secure the regulatory approvals needed to meet its goal of starting air service from Port Columbus in the spring.

 

Its executives say they can do it, although it might require moving at the speed of sound.

 

The Federal Aviation Administration says its certification process for a new airline can take six to 12 months, putting liftoff for Skybus in March at the earliest.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/23/20060923-D1-01.html

 

Long story short, don't expect this to last longer than 3 quarters; a year at max. It's doomed to failure.

 

Care to give us the long story?

Gladly.

 

Here's the letter I sent to the mayor's office regarding my deep concerns over the proposed start-up of Skybus:

 

Good day Mr. Coleman:

 

I am writing this letter in regards to the proposed low fare carrier to

be based out of Columbus, known as Skybus Airlines. To be frank, I must

say this could be one of the most detrimental things to happen to

Columbus aviation, and I am truly worried about its possible start and

the effect it could have on the city.

 

I understand the desire to connect our city to the global aviation

network, which is a wonderful goal that should be immediately pursued.

However, there are far better ways to go about this endeavor. Basically,

all my concerns are covered in the following analysis from the Emerging

Airlines Monitor:

 

http://emergingairlines.blogspot.com/

 

In short the airline's ability to:

 

1. Make good on their business model (how can Skybus maintain high

productivity by serving short stage lengths while serving routes like

Columbus-Seattle/Kansas City/San Diego?).

 

2. Provide customer service representative of our city (it's somewhat

difficult trying to rebook your flight due to a weather cancellation

when you're face to face with a kiosk).

 

3. Serving preferred airports from Columbus (why fly to Trenton, NJ when

I want to be in New York City? The cab fare alone would make flying

directly into NYC far more worth while).

 

4. The effect on current competition (no airline in their right mind

would try to match Skybus' insanely low fares, so increased competition

would be null. In fact, I could very well see airlines that have

invested in Columbus, such as Delta and Southwest, simply looking for

"greener pastures" now that city support has been thrown behind this

start-up carrier).

 

5. The null effect on the business community (a Ryanair type airline

that does not offer a frequent flier program, interline agreements,

service into primary airports, and a one-class ultra economy seating

configuration won't pander to Columbus' most important travel group, the

business traveler).

 

As a student at The Ohio State University about to complete a major in

aviation management, the success of Columbus' aviation community is of

extreme importance to me. I honestly cannot see this as a viable

project. There are so many other ways to get Columbus' commercial

airline service level up to a standard that is more fitting to our fair

city.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

I also participate in an aviation forum, where I responded to a thread concerning Skybus:

 

I'm sorry, but this airline will burn through that $100 million in two quarters, and will be history in the third. The people behind this fiasco claim to have all their ducks in a row when it comes to repeating the success Ryanair has seen, but given some of the fundamentals of their plan, it cannot work.

 

From the article:

 

Customers should expect seven daily flights starting late this year or in early 2007. At that point, Skybus will have two 150-seat planes, a number that will increase to nine in another year.

 

Two planes, eh? Part of Ryanair's business model is extreme utilization of their aircraft fleet. So when one of Skybus' planes eventually goes on mechanical, and there isn't a spare aircraft, and they can't reaccomodate passengers on another carrier, what are they going to do? I smell lawsuit.

 

Skybus also promises the lowest fares in the industry thanks to a no-frills approach that includes no first-class seats and online bookings only.

 

Ummm, didn't we learn anything from Independence Air? Having online bookings as your only means of purchase only works if you have already made a name for yourself. FLYi saw terrible bookings in its first few months, and afterwards corrected their initial mistake of not selling seats through other mediums by eventually selling seats on Travelocity and other companies. Also, my guess is that (like Southeast and Pan Am III) Skybus will really appeal to those that would not be traveling by air, or traveling at all to begin with. So when Mary Lou and Bobby Joe Sixpack from Appalachian Ohio go looking for cheap airfare to see Mickey in Florida, it's probably not going to be on a computer, and they probably will not be informed enough to know Skybus even exists.

 

“In Columbus, where we are relatively underserved, as far as airlines go, this effort to launch Skybus could be one of the most important things ever to happen.”

 

Columbus is not underserved. There are some markets that definitely warrant additional lift, and there are other markets that could easily handle nonstop service from Columbus, but saying Columbus is underserved is definitely stretching it. And if they're hoping Skybus will bring increased competition, they're living in a dream work. No airline in their right mind (I hope) would attempt to match Skybus' low fares...low fares which I don't think they will be able to sustain.

 

Company officials also said they haven't decided which Columbus airport they will use. Diffenderffer said it is interested in secondary terminals, like Rickenbacker, in some cities, but also likes Port Columbus.

 

This could very well be their downfall. If the airline decided to have it's headquarters in Columbus, but maintain its base in a large city with an open terciary airport (PIE for Tampa or Ellington for Houston, for example), I could possibly see this working. But the costs associated with running flights out of Port Columbus does NOT fit the Ryanair/Skybus model. Rickenbacker is far better suited for their kind of operation, but the small terminal there could in no way handle more than a dozen or so flights a day. Also, if they were to run 15-20 aircraft to 25 destinations from Rickenbacker, you run the risk of duplicating what's offered at Port Columbus, and thereby cannibalizing your own airport.

 

Combine all this with the fact that they want to run routes to the West Coast(which decreases aircraft utilization, thereby increasing costs), fly to Canada (which requires jumping through government hoops, thereby increasing costs), and fly to the Caribbean (possibly needing to equip aircraft with overwater capabilities, thereby increasing costs), while at the same time offering fares comparable to Ryanair, and I think we have a recipe for disaster. Here's hoping for the best, but I honestly do not see a future for Skybus Airlines.

Thanks for the informative post.  I don't know enough about the airline industry to refute any of that. Hopefully they can find a way to ovecome some of those obstacles. 

 

And I agree that they need to partner up with Orbitz, Expedia, and ugh...Travelocity.  Southwest is the only company that most people know well enough to look elsewhere for lower fares. 

CMH....

 

While I agree with ya for the most part, SkyBus could work for more than a few reasons.

 

Old Indy Air shot themselves in the foot by trying to convert aircraft that were flown under regional contracts into the 'low-cost carrier' models. Those RJ's suck gas faster than an SUV at idle...and oil prices skyrocketed. They were screwed into flying those aircraft because the leases handn't been paid on most of the aircraft. By the time they picked up the A319's it was too late.

 

On top of that United's IAD operation was brutal towards Indy...they matched almost every route dollar-for-dollar while sitting and hiding in bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Indy couldn't raise prices and found itself burning cash like there was no tommorrow. I believe some of SkyBus's routes will have no competition. I don't think Indy had one route that wasn't covered by United and in some cases other carriers.

 

Also Columbus is one of the most underserved markets in terms of air service for a city of its size. It's not not a knock on C-bus CMH, it's just that a metro of over 1.5 million people that is growing should at least have a solid 'focus-city' carrier. You could argue Delta is doing that, but it's a small time op compared to even Midwest Express in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Washington might be one of the most overserved markets. Just looking at Indy Air's original attempts and the corresponding load factors that followed...there may have been too many options here in the Capital region for the same destinations.

 

I agree with the Orbitz thing....they also will need to market in cities outside Columbus. Indy marketed mostly in Washington and thought word-of-mouth or something would spark 'asses-in-seats' in other cities. That never materialized.

 

The biggest issue, to me, with SkyBus will be where Jet-A costs fall over the next year. The only low-cost American airline having any success at slaying that dragon is Southwest and that's with lots of fuel-hedging.

 

The one thing that I would be worried about too, is that they haven't said what type(s) of aircraft they'll be using. Some are gas-hogs, some are pretty efficient. An 150-seat aircraft could be one of many Boeing or Airbus models.

 

Of course well see if they actually get this thing of the ground and through the FAA process. Virgin America has been around for years and has yet to operate a single flight.

 

Skybus orders 65 jets from Airbus

Cost to Columbus-based startup airline could be nearly $3 billion, some estimate

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

 

Skybus Airlines, a Columbus carrier that expects to start flying next year, has signed a contract to buy 65 jets from Airbus.

 

The French aerospace company called the order one of the largest it has ever received from a startup U.S. airline.

 

The deal calls for Skybus to begin receiving the A319 planes in late 2008. The plane typically holds about 130 passengers.

 

More at:

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/10/26/20061026-F1-01.html

 

 

Sounds very......

 

......ambitious. 

I changed my mind and am agreeing with CMH_Downtown. That Airbus order is ridiculous. 65 A319's! 15 or 20 to start...not a bad idea. 65! This thing is done before it even starts.

While the A319 order is seen as a either a joke or an afterthought in most of these articles, at least Columbus is getting some major press:

 

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/290184_airbus27.html

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4291156.html

 

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-briefs27.4oct27,1,5708493.story?coll=la-headlines-business

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0610270209oct27,0,2945396.story?coll=chi-business-hed

 

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/26/business/airbus.php

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/27/business/worldbusiness/27airbus.html

They'll cough up $57 million for a single airline, but won't contribute something toward a lousy $4.5 million for the EIS for the Ohio Hub?  Something that will create a minimum of 14,000 jobs statewide, raise downtown property values (and thus tax receipts), attract business and residents to downtown which would bolster the streetcar proposal, save energy, reduce carbon emissions, perhaps create an ready-made, easy to serve market for Ohio grown biodiesel, etc, etc.    :x

Worse, here we have a major investment in a short-haul airline when the industry as a whole is literally flying away from that kind of service because it is too costly.  Yet it is precisely the kind of travel market that quality high-speed rail can serve very well and make money.

 

I had a chance to speak with Scott Bernstein this past week.  He is President of the Center for Neighborhood Technology and a recongized authority on sustainable transportation issues.  When I told him about the Skybus purchase of these new Airbus jets, his response was, "The investors better hold a prayer meeting."

 

 

They'll cough up $57 million for a single airline, but won't contribute something toward a lousy $4.5 million for the EIS for the Ohio Hub?  Something that will create a minimum of 14,000 jobs statewide, raise downtown property values (and thus tax receipts), attract business and residents to downtown which would bolster the streetcar proposal, save energy, reduce carbon emissions, perhaps create an ready-made, easy to serve market for Ohio grown biodiesel, etc, etc.    :x

 

Is this Skybus's fault or it's investors, per se? Or is it a failure of how those leading the EIS plan are marketing it to possible investors? Just some food for thought.

From the UK's Sunday Times (Oct. 29th):

 

Ryanair boss heads west  

 

RYANAIR’S yield manager Jim McMahon has jumped ship to join forces with former colleague Charlie Clifton, an executive at Skybus Airlines, the low-cost start-up that expects to start flying next year, writes Joe Brennan.  McMahon is lining up to carry out consultancy work on scheduling and yields for Skybus, which last week signed a deal to buy 65 A319 jets from Airbus.  The deal, based on list prices, is valued at about €2.35 billion. Dubliner Clifton left Ryanair in 2001, having been at the low-cost carrier for 16 years, finally as director of ground operations and in-flight.  He then went on to become interim chief executive at Tiger Airways, the Asian airline in which Tony Ryan, Ryanair’s founder, and his family have a 16% stake.

 

Clifton had a key role in establishing Skybus, based in Columbus, Ohio.  Founded by John Weikle, raising more than $100m (€78.5m) from investors, mainly from Wall Street firms such as Morgan Stanley and Fidelity.  In addition, the City of Columbus and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced last month that they were stumping up $41m in financial assistance for the company, based on the expectation that it will create more than 1,000 jobs.

 

MORE: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/

Is this Skybus's fault or it's investors, per se? Or is it a failure of how those leading the EIS plan are marketing it to possible investors? Just some food for thought.

 

It's not Skybus's fault, and it's not entirely the fault of those leading the Hub plan.  It's the mindset of elected officials.  They are all very familiar with the Ohio Hub plan and the EIS. 

 

We've spent decades investing in aviation and highways and ignoring rail.  Passenger rail just isn't part of people's lives anymore, so they just don't think about it.  Elected officials should know better, because it's their job to (my opinion...) but they don't. 

 

Personally, I think ORDC should take the lead in rounding up the funds from Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, Youngstown, and the major corporate movers and shakers in those cities to get the funds.  Heck, if the corporate class in Columbus could find the money to build the Blue Jackets arena after the ballot issue to pay for it went down in flames, they could come up with a few hundred thousand to kick in for the EIS. 

Meanwhile, another proposed start-up airline never gets off the ground.....

 

 

RICKENBACKER AIRPORT

Fly Mission Air cancels plans for service

Airline might try again in the spring

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

 

It took Hooters Airlines, Southeast, PanAm and Laker Airways months to fail at Rickenbacker Airport.

 

The latest casualty, Fly Mission Air, has folded before it started flying.

 

Fly Mission Air a month ago announced plans for once-daily service to St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., that would have started Friday.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/01/20061101-D1-02.html

Shouldn't this thread by moved to Biz and Economy as opposed to transportation. While it will add air service to C'bus....they are planning to add 1000 jobs to the Columbus market. This is more of a company thread than a general transportation one. Isn't it?

I suppose, but I think this speaks to a basic problem with our transportation policy, which is heavily skewed toward highways and aviation.  Both at the state and fewderal levels, other modes have been either minimized or ignored and not just passenger rail .... freight rail, local mass transit, waterways (think Great Lakes / St. lawrence Seaway and the Ohio River), bikeways, pedestrian amenities..... all of these get short shrift (at best).

 

As a result we get a fundamentally unbalanced transportation system.  Sadly, the response of both the public and private sector in cases like Skybus, is to pour millions of $$$ into a mode that isn't producing the desired result. 

Gildone and Noozer,

 

     While I understand your disdain for things that fly in the air, repeating your opinions over and over on aviation threads isn't solving your goals for getting the ORDC/Ohio Hub  implimented. I'm not gonna stop posting aviation stuff...so I don't know what to tell ya'. Thanks for listening. Domo Arigato Gosimasu. :)

No disdain meant my friend.  If you read through the Ohio Hub Plan in detail, you will see that one major element is creating on-site, intermodal connections with major airports.  Air-rail links are as critical for moving people as they are for moving freight.

 

What I do have disdain for are public officials and private sector people who throw good money into the transportation equivalent of a black hole by building more highways and longer runways while the rest of of transportation in some cases literally go begging for funding to just scrape by.

 

What they do is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  And we all pay for it in traffic congestion both on the highways and in the air.  We pay for it again and again in the way this transportation imbalance negatively impacts our economy, our jobs, our consumption of fossil fuels and our overall quality of life.

 

Hey... I like to drive as much as the next guy, and I have to fly on business at least three or four times a year... but I would just like to have another option.

 

 

No disdain here either, except for the collective myopia in our nation's and state's transportation policies.  I fly from time to time too.  Noozer, you summed it up well.  I'm all for a well balanced transportation system that:

 

1.  equitably includes all modes.

 

2.  treats each mode fairly and properly funds them

 

3.  is holistic in its planning and allows each mode to do what is does best so that each mode can thrive.

 

AmrapinVA: This is an open list for discussion urban transportation issues in Ohio.  No one is asking or expecting you to stop posting aviation stuff. 

 

 

Gildone and Noozer,

 

     While I understand your disdain for things that fly in the air, repeating your opinions over and over on aviation threads isn't solving your goals for getting the ORDC/Ohio Hub  implimented. I'm not gonna stop posting aviation stuff...so I don't know what to tell ya'. Thanks for listening. Domo Arigato Gosimasu. :)

 

As an "outside" observer, I'm not sure I see where you're coming from.  Noozer has posted a bunch of news articles on this thread before weighing in with his opinion.  Just as he has added his thoughts about the state of our transportation system to this thread, you're entitled to do with other transportation threads here.  Sadly, there aren't many rail threads to criticize around here (which speaks volumes towards the state of rail in this country). 

 

Also, this is a message board.  It's sole purpose is to be a place to share news, thoughts, and opinions.  Proceed...

Noozer,

 

    Fair enough and much apologizo. I'm actually with you guys about having a more balanced rail and air system.

 

Brew >> It's not that that I have any issue with stating an opinion. It's just that sometimes things are posted about aviation that are more on the far side of truth. Statements like the "aviation industry as a whole are moving away from regional flights." A more correct statement would be the "aviation industry in the U.S. is moving away from regional flights". I tried to debate this before....but I got ignored. So I'm trying to find a nice way without getting into a pissing contest. I save that stuff for ColDayMan. ;)

I'm cool with that AmrapinVA. 

 

If we can balance our transportation system and offer more choices, that encourages competition and better pricing structures.  Jet Blue and Southwest have done that withing the airline industry.  We need to apply the same concept to transportation as a whole.

 

Have a good one!  No wait.... it's Friday.... have a few cold ones!!!  Cheers!

Amen, brother...and unfortuately since I work for an airline....it's my Thursday. But Saturday night awaits. :)

Amen, brother...and unfortuately since I work for an airline....it's my Thursday. But Saturday night awaits. :)

 

Airline sounds like fun.  Being in VA, I guess you work for United

^^Not UA....one of it's Star Alliance partners.

^^Not UA....one of it's Star Alliance partners.

 

based on some of your prior post im thinking Lufthansa or US Scareways

LOL, if I worked for US Scare I wouldn't be able to afford a computer. ;)

LOL, if I worked for US Scare I wouldn't be able to afford a computer. ;)

 

HA, well I have a couple of friends in DC that work for US Scare.  They hate it.  They asked one to move to Phoenix or Vegas.  His response:  I'd rather cut of my ----! 

 

I find it quite amusing that he wasn't fired on the spot for telling that to his supervisor's, supervisor.  I would have fired his azz on the spot!

Skybus headquarters site to be near Port Columbus

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Skybus Airlines has picked a site near Port Columbus for its headquarters.

 

The Columbus startup airline, which hopes to begin flying in March, has signed a five-year lease for 100,000 square feet of office and hangar space at the Columbus International Air-Center.

 

More at:

 

http://dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/11/20061111-B1-04.html

Buy before you fly

Skybus isn’t off the ground yet, but the company hopes merchandise will help create brand recognition

Friday, December 01, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Skybus Airlines is still mum about its routes and fares, but the startup carrier hopes consumers will do a lot of its talking.  The Columbus-based airline is selling caps, aprons and doggie T-shirts with its logo through its Skybus.com site, months ahead of the company’s spring launch.

 

While its success in operating an airline has yet to be seen, Skybus’ sale of branded merchandise puts it in the big leagues in marketing.  Most major carriers sell products that they hope will enhance their brands and inspire loyalty, while making them a little money on the side.

 

"The strategy is to create awareness and excitement," Skybus spokesman Bob Tenenbaum said.  Product sales began about the same time that two billboards for Skybus sprang up in Columbus in November.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

I think the website looks great.  Not much content yet, but the design is nice.

 

www.skybus.com

Picture of a Skybus jet on this link. Is sure is....uh....orange. :)

 

http://media.www.harbus.org/media/storage/paper343/news/2006/12/04/News/Airlines.The.Most.Profitable.Industry.In.The.World.yes.You.Read.Correctly-2518127.shtml?sourcedomain=www.harbus.org&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

STARTUP AIRLINE

Skybus puts $750 million order in for engines

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Skybus Airlines has chosen an engine produced in the Cincinnati suburb of Evendale to power its fleet of 65 Airbus A319 planes.

 

The order is valued at more than $750 million, based on the list price for the CFM65-5B engine made by CFM International, a venture between General Electric Co. and French company Snecma, owned by the Safran Group.

 

More at:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/14/20070214-D1-04.html

 

Skybus is at least two months from starting ops. But it may not launch until the summer...or the fall...or the winter...or even later...it's all up to the FAA/Skybus at this point:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/15/20070315-F1-01.html

can you say Independce air?!  I'm sorry to be a non believer, but this just seems like a big joke.

 

America West couldn't get a hub to work in Columbus, how is skybus going to? 

what is the route map like? 

what will fares be like? 

are the ETOPS approved? 

will they fly domestic/intercontinental?

although set up in columbus, are they set up in other airports.

 

there are just so many questions.....

How is it that a "fledgling low-cost Carrier' can raise $160-million before it ever (if it ever) flies a plane, and yet the Coleman Administration (which has committed $$$$ to the Skybus effort) has to "find"money for its own streetcar plan. 

 

A full blown Environmental Impact Study of the entire Ohio Hub System would cost around $7-million, which would put the project into engineering and construction.  And yet $160-million can be committed to a start-up airline when the airline industry itself is in the tank and will go even deeper as fuel costs rise.

 

Somebody explain to that to me. 

 

 

More cash raised for Skybus

Business First of Columbus - 5:44 PM EDT Monday, April 2, 2007

 

Skybus Airlines Inc. has completed a second round of equity financing as it considers a possible late-May debut at Port Columbus International Airport.  The fledgling low-cost passenger carrier Monday said it has raised $72.7 million from Central Ohio businesses and investors as well as East Coast financial institutions.  Since its formation in April 2004, the airline has raised more than $160 million to begin air service out of Port Columbus.

 

MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/

America West couldn't get a hub to work in Columbus, how is skybus going to?

 

We've gone over this before. Regardless of what America West could/couldn't/decided not to do, the industry has changed dramatically in the 4 years since the hub's closure. Also, Skybus will be a dramatically different airline than America West ever was.

 

what is the route map like?

 

They're not going to release their routes before attaining certification, that's just fundamental. However, they have hinted at flying routes from Columbus to cities currently not served nonstop from Columbus in just about every direction.

 

what will fares be like?

 

Fares will be similar to those offered by Ryanair in Europe. An advance purchase one-way fare from London to Barcelona can go as low as 3 Euro, plus tax. So medium-range advance purchase fares from Columbus could potentially be as low as say $5, plus tax.

 

are the ETOPS approved?

 

Somewhat of an odd question. I would highly doubt it, since it would be one more expense when the airline is trying to create a very lean, no-frills operation. Besides, ETOPS is really only necessary when flying longer routes that involve or can involve going over large bodies of water (i.e. PHL-SJU or CLT-CUN without hugging the coast).

 

will they fly domestic/intercontinental?

 

I would highly imagine just domestic, at least for now. International flying is expensive, and requires jumping through government hoops and adding more taxes to tickets (i.e. NavCanada charges for flights between the U.S. and Canada).

 

although set up in columbus, are they set up in other airports.

 

Some of those rumored cities I have heard are already expecting Skybus. The rumor I've heard is that they will follow the Ryanair model closely and open several bases as aircraft continue to arrive, supposedly 8 planes per base.

 

Given all this, I still think their chances of survival are slim to none. $160 million is pocket change in the airline industry; they'll likely burn through that in less than a year.

 

How is it that a "fledgling low-cost Carrier' can raise $160-million before it ever (if it ever) flies a plane, and yet the Coleman Administration (which has committed $$$$ to the Skybus effort) has to "find"money for its own streetcar plan. 

 

Because a train can't take you from Columbus to Seattle in 5 hours. And when private corporations start funding rail transit, then we can draw accurate comparisons. Lastly, of that $160 million, $57 million is from local and state contributions, mostly in the form of tax breaks and job creation incentives.

Nationwide takes to the air with Skybus ads

 

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

If you fly on a Skybus plane, Nationwide will be on your side. It?ll also be on your tray table, overhead bin and bathroom door.

 

That?s because the startup airline has tapped its biggest hometown investor, Nationwide, as the sponsor of its first "branded airplane."

 

In a move aimed at defraying ticket costs, the airline will sell advertising on both the inside and outside of its fleet of Airbus A319 planes.

 

More at:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/04/11/20070411-D1-03.html

 

 

From the Foster's Daily Democrat of Dover, NH. Looks like Portsmouth, NH to Columbus will be one of the first routes on Skybus.

 

Friday, April 20, 2007

 

New airline expected at Pease

 

By MICHAEL GOOT

Portsmouth Bureau Chief

[email protected]

 

 

PORTSMOUTH — A new low-cost airline could be flying out of Portsmouth International Airport at Pease as early as next month.

 

Skybus Airlines, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, is entering an agreement with the Pease Development Authority for twice daily flights seven days a week from Portsmouth to Columbus and ultimately to eight domestic destinations.

 

Full story at:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070420/FOSTERS01/104200271

 

 

 

Travel Holdings Named Exclusive Travel Provider for Skybus Airlines

 

Skybus Web Site to Offer Hotels, Cruises, Transfers, Attractions

 

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Travel Holdings, Inc. has been named the exclusive provider of travel products for Skybus Airlines, the next generation of low-fare airlines, with services launching in the spring of 2007.

 

The travel distributor will provide hotel, cruise, attractions and transfers for Skybus passengers in every destination the airline flies. The relationship between Travel Holdings and Skybus has created a one-stop-shop for consumers looking to book all components of their travel through one web site.

 

More at:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070419005617&newsLang=en

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/04/23/daily9.html 

 

Skybus to launch service May 22

Business First of Columbus - 1:55 PM EDT Tuesday, April 24, 2007

by Brian R. BallBusiness First

 

Skybus Airlines Inc. has chosen to serve four markets west of the Mississippi River and primarily secondary airports as the fledgling passenger airline prepares to launch service May 22 to the first three of eight initial destinations out of Port Columbus International Airport.

 

The airline is setting aside at least 10 seats on each flight that it will sell for $10 as part of its plan to undercut competitors' fares by at least 50 percent.

 

More at link above:

I'm very skeptical.

 

They have not received government approval.

 

However, our news bureaus have gotten calls about the "bate and switch" since there were a very limited amount of $10 tickets available.

Jesus...they're flying to airports not even JetBlue or Southwest has ventured into. Flying 100+ seat aircraft to Bellingham and Portsmouth? This is going to be very interesting. I smell an early death for old Skybus, but ya never know.

And JetBlue reported today that it just about lost it's behind (tail section?) financially in the first-quarter of this year.  NPR radio is citing eroding customer base (9-hour delays with passengers trapped on the plane on the tarmac...go figure).... and the rising cost of jet fuel.

 

So tell me again why the City of Columbus finds investing in a start-up airline such a good thing.  They should listen to Warren Buffett and invest in railroads: undervalued, tremendous room for business growth and far more fuel efficient.

 

 

I just saw the 30 second clip on CNN about this ... very good news!

 

No we need a $10 charge round-trip ticket between Cincy and C-Bus and I will be able to visit Chris more! ;)