April 25, 200718 yr Skybus' cheap-ticket sales soar 60,000 sold first day despite some glitches Wednesday, April 25, 2007 3:29 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines got off to a fast start during its first day of business yesterday, selling 60,000 one-way tickets by 5 p.m. The Columbus airline, which will start flying May 22, is using a low-fare strategy that includes offering $10 fares for at least 10 seats on every flight. "We booked flights today for Boston, Richmond, Kansas City, San Francisco and Seattle," Bexley resident Arlene Armstrong said in an e-mail to The Dispatch. "The total cost for 10 tickets was only $399. What a deal!" There will be more where that came from. At a news conference yesterday morning to officially announce routes and fares, Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer said the airline plans to add seven more routes from Columbus within the next several weeks, bringing the total to 15 routes before the end of the year. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com
April 25, 200718 yr Airline Skybus gets off ground in May By Dan Reed, USA TODAY Airline start-up Skybus announced Tuesday that it will launch service next month from its Columbus, Ohio, base, moving discount travel in the USA closer than ever to the bare-bones model pioneered by Europe's popular Ryanair. CEO Bill Diffenderffer says the new airline will make its splash in the crowded domestic airline business with ultralow fares and separate charges for services from baggage handling to onboard snacks. As a permanent pricing feature, Skybus plans to make 10 seats on all flights aboard its 150-seat Airbus A319s available at $10 each way. Average fares will be pegged at about 50% of the going rate of other carriers serving the same markets. Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-04-24-skybus-launch_N.htm
April 25, 200718 yr 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. ^^ FYI, ANA made $587 million last quarter. :)
April 25, 200718 yr CMH & ArmrapVa? Your suggestions as to how long this will last? Simply put: Skybus = Independence Air with less money.
April 25, 200718 yr AmrapinVA, I agree. Besides, I'm too "married" to my frequent flyer programs and FC seating
April 26, 200718 yr ^ I don't think you are Skybus' target audience. I think they are going for people like me who don't normally look to the airport when it comes time to travel.
April 26, 200718 yr ^ I don't think you are Skybus' target audience. I think they are going for people like me who don't normally look to the airport when it comes time to travel. we'll its a given these will be "cattle cars" lol Besides the airports they are currently scheduled to serve are too far away from the cities they claim to serve. then they "nickle-and-dime" you for everything in-flight. I don't expect to see skybus at CLE or CVG and even a slight chance to see them at Akron-Canton, Toledo or Dayton as those are markets currently served by LCC
April 26, 200718 yr ^ I don't think you are Skybus' target audience. I think they are going for people like me who don't normally look to the airport when it comes time to travel. we'll its a given these will be "cattle cars" lol Besides the airports they are currently scheduled to serve are too far away from the cities they claim to serve. then they "nickle-and-dime" you for everything in-flight. I don't expect to see skybus at CLE or CVG and even a slight chance to see them at Akron-Canton, Toledo or Dayton as those are markets currently served by LCC The cost of flying an Airbus on a short-haul flight to another Ohio market (especially with low-fares like they are posting) means I highly doubt you'll ever see a CMH-CLE or a CMH-CVG, let alone a flight to Akron-Canton, Toledo or Dayton. The longer the flight the better. If they pick up a smaller aircraft type along the way....maybe. Don't forget Continental and Delta would probably match Skybus's fares (if the airline attempted to do a Cleveland or Cincy run) on those routes and take a loss, just like United did with Indy Air to force Skybus out.
April 26, 200718 yr The cost of flying an Airbus on a short-haul flight to another Ohio market (especially with low-fares like they are posting) means I highly doubt you'll ever see a CMH-CLE or a CMH-CVG, let alone a flight to Akron-Canton, Toledo or Dayton. The longer the flight the better. If they pick up a smaller aircraft type along the way....maybe. Don't forget Continental and Delta would probably match Skybus's fares (if the airline attempted to do a Cleveland or Cincy run) on those routes and take a loss, just like United did with Indy Air to force Skybus out. I can see hourly regional jets flooding Columbus for a short period of time and weekend specials, if they tried to fly to CVG or CLE. If they tried to fly to DTW, NW would retaliate, as they normally do and "make up a route" on skybus' most popular or "profitable" route. Thats exactly what continental did when I-Air started up. Continental started hourly service ($49, $69 & $99 RT fares) between IAD-CLE & IAD-EWR. I-Air reduced service from 8 to 6 at Cleveland then down to 2 at Newark they went from 10 to 6 then down to 4 before continental ran them out. That in conjunction to what United Express and Delta Express/Delta Shutte was doing was just, put a nail in the coffin of I-Air.
April 27, 200718 yr CMH & ArmrapVa? Your suggestions as to how long this will last? Simply put: Skybus = Independence Air with less money. Don't you mean Skybus = Independence Air with a different business plan, shiny new planes, and MUCH MUCH more buzz? I mean, did Independence Air have 60,000 seats booked by 5pm on it's first day?
April 27, 200718 yr CMH & ArmrapVa? Your suggestions as to how long this will last? Simply put: Skybus = Independence Air with less money. Don't you mean Skybus = Independence Air with a different business plan, shiny new planes, and MUCH MUCH more buzz? I mean, did Independence Air have 60,000 seats booked by 5pm on it's first day? OK, just to clarify...I'm not dissing Skybus because it's not in Cleveland. In fact, if this plan was being implimented at Hopkins I'd probably complain about this even more. I'd rather have CAL expand. Independence Air had $300 million and blew through it in about 18 months. Mind you...it was charging more than $10/a seat and Jet A was cheaper during it's reign than it will be Skybus this summer. Also, what buzz? Sure in C'bus. Where else? Who knows about this airline outside of Central Ohio? Skybus has $160 million. It has 60,000 passengers. That's great. But how full does the plane have to be before it makes a profit. 80% full. 90% full. 110% full. Those numbers have yet to be released to the public. We'll know by 3Q, when Skybus posts its financials. I'm guessing 12 months before it files for the dreaded B word. I actually hope I'm wrong, C'bus is growing market that deserves better air service, but I don't see it through this vehicle.
April 27, 200718 yr Skybus is planning to fly to Oakland as its 'Bay Area' flight. I'm not gonna repost the article, it just repeats previous info already on here. Link is below. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_5745947?source=rss
April 27, 200718 yr Idunno...CNN, USA Today, Buisness Week, Houston Chronicle, all covered it. They were also on Travelzoo's Top 20. There's buzz. They've also sold at least 60,004 seats after I booked my round trip flight to San Fran.
April 28, 200718 yr Idunno...CNN, USA Today, Buisness Week, Houston Chronicle, all covered it. They were also on Travelzoo's Top 20. There's buzz. They've also sold at least 60,004 seats after I booked my round trip flight to San Fran. Well Indy Air was covered by the national news media during it's startup as well. It's a new airline, it's going to get pub.
April 30, 200718 yr An interesting article on Skybus from the NY Times: A New Low-Fare Airline on a Web-Only Approach By JEFF BAILEY Published: April 25, 2007 The extreme low-fare airline, already well established in Europe, will try for a comeback in the United States on May 22 with a well-financed start-up, Skybus Airlines, beginning service that day and promising at least 10 seats on every flight priced at $10 one-way — before taxes. If it sounds like People Express and Laker Airways — low-price carriers that made a splash, expanded too fast and then collapsed — there are similarities. More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/business/25sky.html
April 30, 200718 yr This is definitely for leisure, students and people who don't care how they get from Point A to B. However, things I see to be a problem: - $5 to check a bag - you're kidding me - $10 for a preferred seat - Its the same seat as everyone else...its all coach! :? - $2 for a soft drink - talk about inflation! - “Don’t call us,” the Web site explains. “We don’t have a phone number.” - ahh, its the year 2007..... - None of Skybus’s announced routes compete directly against Southwest Southwest will crush them, just like USAir if they put a plane on any route currently operated by SW. I expect SW to retaliate on flights out of MDW, CLE, BNA & FLL I also think there will be more service to CMH from ORD(UA & AA), CLE (CO), CVG (DL), DTW (NW) and I suspect Delta will beef up that CMH-LAX-CMH route. SW has already picked off most cities USAir flies to and now seems to be going after Continental (in Cleveland and Houston simultaneously) to Nashville, Orlando, Baltimore, St. Louis, Phoenix & Las Vegas
April 30, 200718 yr As a consumer...I love all of those things. What you need to realize is that you're paying for those services at all airlines, you just don't see them itemized. Skybus is just unbundling all of them so consumers can pick and choose air travel that best suits thier needs. I think it's a great business plan. It's akin to buying a Scion. They don't have all of the "sport package", "touring package", "grand touring package" options like other cars. They sell each option a la carte so you can choose only the options that you want.
April 30, 200718 yr As a consumer...I love all of those things. What you need to realize is that you're paying for those services at all airlines, you just don't see them itemized. Skybus is just unbundling all of them so consumers can pick and choose air travel that best suits thier needs. I think it's a great business plan. It's akin to buying a Scion. They don't have all of the "sport package", "touring package", "grand touring package" options like other cars. They sell each option a la carte so you can choose only the options that you want. No first class No frequent flyer benefits/partnerships No food Airbus planes - yuk! Contracted customer & support services - a nightmare in the making Most people buying most likely wont care about the first three items but the plane type and service issues are not cool.
April 30, 200718 yr Again, as a consumer, I understand that you get what you pay for. I paid $200 round trip for two tickets to Oakland. I'm not expecting to be pampered, I just want to get from point A to point B. If they get me there on time, I'm happy. As for the plane types, I've flown all over the country on little Embraers (2+1 seating arrangement) and I'm 6'4". It sucks, but I've learned not to expect much out of air travel anymore. I pop in my iPod, shove my knees into the seat in front of me, and close my eyes.
May 1, 200718 yr As for the plane types, I've flown all over the country on little Embraers (2+1 seating arrangement) and I'm 6'4". It sucks, but I've learned not to expect much out of air travel anymore. I pop in my iPod, shove my knees into the seat in front of me, and close my eyes. Be prepared to shove your knees even deeper into the seat in front of you on Skybus. The A319 has a normal maximum all-coach seating configuration of 132 seats. Skybus will be squeezing an extra 12 seats (2 more rows) into their planes, which should equate to roughly 28-29 inches of pitch (space between seats). In comparison, just about all regional jets (Embraers, Canadairs, etc) are configured with a seat pitch of 30-31 inches. It may not seem like a lot, but on a trip to California, those extra inches make a difference. Airbus planes - yuk! What's wrong with Airbus? From a passenger comfort standpoint, the Airbus narrowbody cabin is wider than that Boeing 737 line, creating more passenger room. From an employee standpoint, the Airbus' are far superior to Boeings, at least in my opinion, and I've worked Boeing's 737-300/400/500/800 variants, as well as Airbus' A319s and A320s. - None of Skybuss announced routes compete directly against Southwest Southwest will crush them, just like USAir if they put a plane on any route currently operated by SW. I expect SW to retaliate on flights out of MDW, CLE, BNA & FLL Retaliate in what way? Southwest (code is "WN" not "SW." SW is Air Namibia) cannot match $10 fares, no one can. And also why would Southwest "retaliate" out of cities to which Skybus doesn't fly, such as Chicago and Cleveland? I also think there will be more service to CMH from ORD(UA & AA), CLE (CO), CVG (DL), DTW (NW) and I suspect Delta will beef up that CMH-LAX-CMH route. I doubt it. Most of the carriers and destinations you listed exist purely for connecting traffic, which Skybus has clearly stated they want no part of. The operating costs of flying an airplane on a city pair as short as CMH-CVG/DTW/CLE are astronomical. There's no way any airline could charge $10, $25, even $50 on a segment that short and expect to make money, even with a full plane. Again, those routes exist because they are full of people paying $200, $500, even $1000+ to get to a destination beyond the initial hub. As for CMH-LAX, Delta's narrowbody fleet is stretched pretty thin as it is, as is the demand between Columbus and the L.A. basin. I doubt we'll see any retaliation from Delta. SW has already picked off most cities USAir flies to and now seems to be going after Continental (in Cleveland and Houston simultaneously) to Nashville, Orlando, Baltimore, St. Louis, Phoenix & Las Vegas Huh? WN has been in HOU (Houston Hobby) pretty-much ever since they started flying in 1971. In fact, they pulled out of Intercontinental a few years ago, which is Continental's Houston fortress hub. Southwest has had over 100 daily departures from HOU for some time now, and actually new service from that city has been relatively stangant in comparison to their growth markets (PVD, PHL, MHT, etc). Cleveland hasn't seen any new service from WN since they announced daily MCO service last year. CMH & ArmrapVa? Your suggestions as to how long this will last? I give Skybus roughly a year of existance before entering into Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, followed by liquidation 1 or 2 quarters later. Their demise will come from a host of operational problem that are followed by knee-jerk reactions by the top brass, causing costs to rise, and profitability to become unattainable. A traveling public unaccustomed to having their ticket voided by showing up at the counter after check-in cut off and not being provided lodging or meal vouchers for controllable delays will cause further headache for Skybus. Also, I just can't see Skybus making money on their fare plan. The airline doesn't make money on the $10 and $50 fares, it's the $100-$200 fares that Skybus needs to be selling. However, why would pay, say $300 round trip to Fort Lauderdale, when Delta can take you there for the same price, nonstop, with better flight times, and will rebook you on another flight/carrier if your flight is delayed/cancelled? That I think is the fatal flaw in their business plan. Once people get burned by Skybus, they'll go back to Southwest, jetBlue, or even Delta and United.
May 9, 200718 yr Skybus hires employees as it gets ready for departure Wednesday, May 9, 2007 3:30 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines' low fares have resulted in 200,000 bookings since the Columbus-based carrier started selling tickets April 24. The $10 strategy is obviously getting attention, not just in central Ohio but nationwide. The no-frills airline offers $10 fares for at least 10 seats on each flight to eight destinations. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/09/SKYBUS.ART_ART_05-09-07_C8_1O6KNTQ.html
May 11, 200718 yr Skybus gets OK from FAA to start flights on May 22 Thursday, May 10, 2007 6:44 PM By Barnet D. Wolf THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, meaning the airline can begin service May 22 as planned. “FAA certification is the final hurdle,” said Ken Gile, the president and chief operating officer of Skybus. “We are ready to take our place in the U.S. airline community.” More at: http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/10/skybus.html
May 20, 200718 yr The Columbus Dispatch ran a series of stories in today's edition in adavnce of the Tuesday startup of flight operations for Skybus. You can link to the whole series through the link below: http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/20/SKYBUS_A1.ART_ART_05-20-07_A1_RS6OV4F.html Skybus' planned Tuesday start shows promise Company leaders fought hard to get airline off the ground, and customers are buying in Sunday, May 20, 2007 3:40 AM By Marla Matzer Rose The Columbus Dispatch As Skybus Airlines taxis toward its inaugural flight on Tuesday, it enters a stormy industry that has grounded many discount airlines before it. But experts say Skybus, founded with the help of Columbus businessmen, is the best-funded startup since deregulation, launching with $160 million that includes backing from the likes of Morgan Stanley and Fidelity. More at above link:
May 20, 200718 yr Southwest Airlines has started airing anti-Skybus radio ads in Columbus, focusing on the additional charges for stuff like extra luggage, food, drinks, etc.
May 22, 200718 yr Skybus' first flight leaves for California Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:35 AM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The new Columbus-based airline's first flight left Port Columbus at 9:36 this morning, bound for Burbank, Calif. Takeoff occurred with “absolutely no hitches,” said David Whitaker, vice president of business development at Port Columbus. The flight was expected to reach Burbank at 11:04 a.m. California time, Whitaker said. More than 200,000 tickets have been sold for Skybus flights since they went on sale at 6 a.m. on April 24. The airlines offers eight nonstop destinations from Port Columbus: Los Angeles, via Burbank, Calif.; San Francisco, via the airport in Oakland; Kansas City, Mo.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; the Boston market, via Portsmouth, N.H.; the Seattle and Vancouver areas, via Bellingham, Wash.; and Greensboro/Winston-Salem, in North Carolina. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com
May 31, 200718 yr 3 MORE DESTINATIONS New cities help Skybus' sales surge again Thursday, May 31, 2007 3:35 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines received another boost in ticket sales yesterday when the Columbus carrier put tickets to three new destinations on sale to the public. More than 20,000 tickets were sold by 4:30 p.m., Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer said. Tickets went on sale about 7:45 a.m., after a software glitch delayed the planned 6:00 a.m. launch. More at: http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/31/skybus_follow.ART_ART_05-31-07_C10_FT6S9PC.html
May 31, 200718 yr San Diego here we come! Two round trip tickets (after taxes) = $81.60 Three nights in a cheap hybrid hotel downtown = $195.74 Two 3-day trolley cards = $24 5 minute taxi ride to/from the airport = $30 That leaves quite a bit to spend on food/entertainment!
May 31, 200718 yr Party on Brewmaster! Take some pix of the San Diego trolleys and post them when you get back.
May 31, 200718 yr San Diego here we come! Two round trip tickets (after taxes) = $81.60 Three nights in a cheap hybrid hotel downtown = $195.74 Two 3-day trolley cards = $24 5 minute taxi ride to/from the airport = $30 That leaves quite a bit to spend on food/entertainment! I think that 5 minute $30 taxi ride would kill my budget =)
June 9, 200718 yr Interesting piece from the Jacksonville Times-Union newspaper on what changes are being made at St. Augustine Airport inorder to accomodate thier first commercial carrier -- Skybus. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060607/bus_175015201.shtml
June 24, 200717 yr Note the higlighted paragraphs below: imagine if we had light rail or Ohio Hub trains connecting Port Columbus with downtown and other ground destinations? The Skybus effect Other cities welcome airline with open arms; Columbus earning some raves, too Sunday, June 24, 2007 3:51 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Now that Skybus is a reality, the reception to the carrier has been positive, executives say, with ticket sales at many destinations exceeding expectations. Glowing travel stories. Water-cannon salutes. Welcome ceremonies packed with local officials. Skybus Airlines might be Columbus' hometown carrier, but it also has been received with open arms in other cities, including jaded towns such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Newspapers and TV stations have covered the arrival of the upstart, with the coverage helping to boost ticket sales. More at: http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/24/skybus_elsewhere.ART_ART_06-24-07_D1_2L733V5.html
June 29, 200717 yr From the 6/28/07 Dispatch: Skybus looking to tropics Thursday, June 28, 2007 3:38 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Get ready for an international flight that might cost less than your passport. Skybus Airlines, which sells at least 10 seats on every flight for $10, has applied to offer flights to Cancun, Mexico, and Nassau in the Bahamas. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/28/skybus_international.ART_ART_06-28-07_C10_FR7592T.html?type=rss&cat=7
July 12, 200717 yr From the 7/11/07 Dispatch: Airline's glitches not seen as serious Skybus resolving early problems with delays, food supply, experts say Wednesday, July 11, 2007 3:33 AM By Stories by Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines said it is working on a range of problems that have spurred customer complaints, including flight delays and a shortage of food for sale. Airline officials admit the company has suffered some "growing pains" since beginning service May 22, spokesman Bob Tenenbaum said. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/07/11/skybus_glitch.ART_ART_07-11-07_C8_V278HV9.html
July 19, 200717 yr Tickets flying as Skybus boosts schedule Thursday, July 19, 2007 3:35 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines received another boost in ticket sales when it added more than two months to its flight schedule last week. The carrier sold 30,000 tickets within the first four hours, Chief Executive Bill Diffenderffer said, representing about 10 percent of the tickets the airline had sold since sales began in April. Read more at: http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/07/19/skybus_lunch.ART_ART_07-19-07_C8_I07ANP5.html
July 21, 200717 yr It was mentioned above that Skybus wasn't getting any real national attention... Living in Seattle, I can tell you that is not true. Not only did pretty much all the major newspapers and television stations announce it (NYTimes, Washington Post, CNN, FOX et al.), but every city Skybus is flying into runs a few pieces about the airline. The Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer both ran pieces on skybus since it's flying into Bellingham (an hour or so north of here). As far as how well it will do -- Well, most people seem to enjoy it, and the surcharges for baggage etc is not that bad or that different from any other airlines... It seems like it at first, until you realize that the free food you get on regular airlines isn't really food at all (its a pack of peanuts). And the luggage deal is essentially the same scheme as delta, except you have to pay 10 dollars if you bring 2 bags. Any more than two bags, then the scheme is exactly like Delta. And the food thing --- They have yet to throw anyone off for bringing their own food. Also, the prices are pretty much the same as the other airlines, except you don't get that free pack of peanuts =( <--- I know it's horrible... Anyway, the two real downsides of Skybus are the lack of a call center and the lack of connecting flights. But, if you can get through that, it's going to be a helluva money saver. My dad and his wife are flying out to Seattle this winter round trip for something like 90 bucks. Can't beat that.
July 26, 200717 yr Skybus Announces International Flights Jul 26 2007 7:21AM COLUMBUS, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Transportation recently approved new routes of Skybus Airlines. The discount airline will offer flights from Columbus to Nassau, Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico, 10TV News reported. http://www.10tv.com/?sec=&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200707/1648497154.html
July 26, 200717 yr great, with no staff what so ever, you're going to start international service. I can't wait to hear the horror stories!
July 26, 200717 yr Just had my first Skybus experience to San Diego. I thought it was fine. The seats were a tad bit smaller than normal (but I'm 6'4"). I did manage to get an exit row seat for the return flight, so that helped things out. Boarding simultaneously from the front and back of the plane was rediculously fast. I've never seen a full plane get boarded that quickly. We didn't order any food or drinks, but the drinks were only $2, alcohol was $5, and the food was $8-10. People around us said that thier food was really good. Aside from not getting any free peanuts and drinks, it was a pretty normal flying experience. For $10, I'm really not allowed to complain either. Here's hoping that our trip to Oakland in September goes that well.
August 25, 200717 yr Just had my first Skybus experience to San Diego. I thought it was fine. The seats were a tad bit smaller than normal (but I'm 6'4"). I did manage to get an exit row seat for the return flight, so that helped things out. Boarding simultaneously from the front and back of the plane was rediculously fast. I've never seen a full plane get boarded that quickly. We didn't order any food or drinks, but the drinks were only $2, alcohol was $5, and the food was $8-10. People around us said that thier food was really good. Aside from not getting any free peanuts and drinks, it was a pretty normal flying experience. For $10, I'm really not allowed to complain either. Here's hoping that our trip to Oakland in September goes that well. I was going to take this flight also to San Diego Next week, but i desided on taking Northwest out of CVG. It was not worth the trip to Columbus to save $45. The columbus to San Diego trip was non stop though.
September 8, 200717 yr Another article about SkyBus via columbusunderground.com and the Charlotte Sun-Herald. Here's the link to the discussion at CU: http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9550 And the link to the sun-herald article: http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=090107&story=tp4np7.htm&folder=NewsArchive2
September 13, 200717 yr Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/09/13/skybus_bahamas.ART_ART_09-13-07_C10_1A7SRU3.html?sid=101 2 cities in Bahamas on Skybus flight plan Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:30 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Skybus Airlines might fly to two destinations in the Bahamas rather than just one when it begins proposed service to the islands. The airline said it wants to fly three times a week from Port Columbus to the Grand Bahama Island city of Freeport. The flights would alternate days with flights to the Bahamian capital of Nassau, which has a larger airport and is a bigger draw for tourists, according to a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In July, the Transportation Department granted a Skybus request to offer service from Columbus to Nassau and Cancun, Mexico.
September 13, 200717 yr If we're lucky, they'll never get that far. The damage Skybus has done to the local air travel market is reprehensibe, and as long as they're still here, it looks to get much worse.
September 13, 200717 yr ^can you elaborate? Some of it is proprietary information, but I'll elaborate where I can. Despite what elected officials may say, Skybus has been doing more to hurt the local economy than help it. For example, all their ground staff in Columbus is outsourced; that is to say that none of them, not even the people that put you on the aircraft are actual Skybus employees. They are paid far below the industry standard and are essentially only instructed to check bags. Customer service is not a highly stressed aspect of their job, which is an absurdity in a customer service-based industry. Another problem with Skybus is its method of operation. Flying into secondary airports, no interline agreements with other carriers, an extremely limited route network and frequency, no back ups in the case of severly delayed or cancelled flights, and appealing to the lowest common denominator will not attract the business people we want to this city. Skybus may help Mr. and Mrs. Jones fly them and the two kids to Ft. Lauderdale, but it won't help the small businesses in Columbus, nor business around the country get to Columbus. To complicate that, the carriers that DO fly the business routes have seen part of their bottom line (i.e. the leisure customers) choose to fly Skybus, and are therefore downsizing aircraft, frequency, and routes from Columbus, further hurting Columbus' ability to do business with the rest of the nation and the world. Proposed new routes have been shelved, and new airlines have decided not to consider Columbus when opening new cities. Skybus is a cancer, and it needs to be stopped, before it's too late.
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