67-492: (Redirected from SkyBus ) Skybus may refer to: Airlines [ edit ] Skybus Airlines , a former American airline SkyBus International Airlines , a Kazakh charter airline Skybus (Aqua Avia) , a proposed privately owned airline in New Zealand during the 1970s Isles of Scilly Skybus , a British airline Other transport [ edit ] Skybus Metro ,
134-538: A 12-year maintenance agreement that was new for Airbus and Skybus was the launch customer for this service plan which helped them manage maintenance costs. Additionally, the aircraft would have been equipped with the latest in EFB ( electronic flight bags ) and HUD ( heads up display ) technology, as well as TCAS II terrain and traffic avoidance technology which is integrated in with an EGPWS technology box that protects from terrain collision. Skybus planned to lease aircraft of
201-695: A defunct rapid transit proposal in India SkyBus (airport bus) , an airport bus service in Melbourne, Hobart and Gold Coast (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand) Sky Bus Transport System , intercity buses in Ethiopia Transit Expressway Revenue Line , commonly known as "Skybus", a proposed people mover system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania See also [ edit ] Airbus Topics referred to by
268-525: A less congested alternative to Philadelphia International Airport. Many travelers in the Philadelphia area preferred the smaller airport without the congestion issues of Philadelphia International Airport . Skybus announced on March 19, 2008, that "previously announced service between Columbus and Niagara Falls, NY, [before it even started], as well as a previously announced second daily flight between Columbus and Milwaukee, will not begin." Also announced
335-584: A loss of $ 16 million during its first three months of operation. A Skybus spokesman said that these results were "in line" with expectations for an airline startup. During that period, Skybus planes were 79% full, placing the airline sixteenth highest among 96 reporting airlines. Passenger yield for the quarter was 5.08 cents/mile, compared with Southwest's 12.50 cents/mile and the 13.00-cent/mile average among major national carriers. Port Columbus International Airport John Glenn Columbus International Airport ( IATA : CMH , ICAO : KCMH , FAA LID : CMH )
402-462: A means of advertising. The uniforms for both male and female flight attendants consisted of black shoes, black casual dress pants with black long sleeve T-shirts. The front and back of the T-shirts would advertise a Skybus focus city, along with an advertising slogan specific to that city or a generic Skybus ad phrase. Flight attendants purchased their own uniforms and were allowed to choose and wear
469-435: A minimum guarantee. The average captain's earnings were about $ 90,000 vs $ 120,000 per year for a theoretical first year Captain at airlines like United Airlines (there is no first year pay at United) but in the case of Skybus this included a significant stock options and profit share package unique in the airline industry. Additionally unusual for Skybus flight crew was that there were very few if any overnight trips thus giving
536-589: A multi-segment itinerary. In an effort to attract the airline to the city, as well as support its growth early on, the city of Columbus, along with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority , had offered incentives totaling over $ 57 million. These incentives included a twelve-year tax credit , promised airport improvements, business loans, and marketing support. Most of the incentives were performance-based, which required Skybus to create 1000 jobs and complete other milestones to receive
603-402: A new arrivals/departures board replaced the old one in the main entrance area. Columbus began its Terminal Modernization Program in late 2012, which included new terrazzo flooring throughout the airport, new ceilings, new restrooms, more TSA security lanes, and new LED lighting. Construction started on Concourse A in late 2012 and was completed throughout the terminal in early 2016. In 2013,
670-569: A new food court. Also, new hangars and office spaces were completed for NetJets in 1999, as well as a $ 92 million parking garage including an underground terminal entrance, new rental car facilities, dedicated ground transportation area, improved eight-lane terminal access on two levels, and a new atrium and entrances in 2000, which were designed by URS Corporation . On April 25, 2004, a new 195-foot (59 m) control tower directed its first aircraft. This began several major facility enhancements to be constructed through 2025. On October 21, 2010,
737-524: A reduction of frills. There were charges for virtually everything else (see Skybus business model), including checked baggage charges, which were later implemented by other carriers such as Delta, Northwest and United. On July 24, 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Skybus the right to fly international flights to Cancún , Mexico and Nassau, Bahamas . Two months later, the airline announced that it would begin daily service from Portsmouth to St. Augustine and Fort Myers, Florida , served by
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#1732787421355804-400: A small increase in price. A complete list of where advertisements were to be placed was not released. Soon after the departures of several top managers, on April 4, 2008, Skybus announced they were shutting down all flight operations. The airline also said it would seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A statement on its website regarding the shutdown said that "Skybus struggled to overcome
871-464: A strict point-to-point service, not booking flights between destination cities that were not Columbus, but the company later announced it would begin flying direct flights from its Portsmouth, NH, destination to two locations in Florida. In addition, prices of tickets and details on extra fees were announced the same day. Service between Port Columbus and the other eight destinations began on May 22, and
938-642: A total order of 63), 12 received in December 2007 and one in March 2008, two of which were leased from Virgin America . The average age of the fleet was 4.3 years. Original images of a livery design described by some as "psychedelic" emerged on the internet, but since then the all orange design displaying the butterfly logo on the tail made its appearance on the Columbus tarmac . The butterfly logo incorporates
1005-656: A union referendum. The pilots were seeking to join Local 747 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , based in Houston , Texas . Because of the number of signatures collected, it was presumed that the campaign would be successful. The election would have most likely occurred sometime in April 2008. Successful unionization could have severely undermined Skybus's below-market compensation philosophy and laid
1072-429: A waiver to begin ticket sales on April 24, 2007; Skybus' first passenger flights out of Columbus began on May 22, 2007. Less than a year later, Skybus announced on April 4, 2008, that it would cease operations as of April 5, citing the lagging economy and rising fuel costs as causes. Taking advantage of America West Airlines pulling down its Columbus, Ohio hub, its founder, John Weikle, started raising capital to start
1139-469: Is accessible directly by taking exit number nine on Interstate 670 to International Gateway. Alternatively, drivers can also get to the airport from the east via Hamilton Road, just south of Interstate 270 , and enter at Sawyer Road or from the west via Stelzer Road. Connected to the terminal is a six-story parking garage that provides long-term and short-term parking. Lower cost satellite parking options, with continuous free shuttle service, can be found in
1206-403: Is an international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km; 5.2 nmi) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio . Formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport , it is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority , which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field . The airport code "CMH" stands for "Columbus Municipal Hangar," the original name of
1273-576: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Skybus Airlines Skybus Airlines Inc. was a privately held airline based in Columbus , Ohio , United States . It operated as an ultra low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair , and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States. The business model
1340-539: The COVID-19 pandemic . John Glenn Columbus International Airport has one terminal with three concourses, and a total of 29 usable gates. Non-precleared international flights arrive through Concourse C and are processed in the airport's customs facility. The airport has two fixed-base operators , which offer fuel (both avgas and jet fuel ), aircraft parking, conference rooms , crew lounges, snooze rooms, showers , courtesy transportation, and more. The airport
1407-921: The Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda in December 2007. The airline made news during the Christmas 2007 travel season, when it encountered problems with two of its seven planes, resulting in the cancellation of about 25% of its scheduled service over a two-day period. As a result of not having de-icing contracts in place in advance of winter 2007–08, Skybus was forced to take significant delays and incurred thousands of dollars in additional de-icing costs. On March 24, 2008, Skybus announced that chief executive Bill Diffenderffer had resigned to return to his previous occupation as an author. As of Friday, April 4, 2008, its last day of operation, Skybus provided service to 17 destinations throughout
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#17327874213551474-467: The Columbus, Ohio , area. Almost all were immediately laid off. Passengers were also left stranded before they could complete their round trip flights. Port Columbus did not face harsh losses from the airline's shutdown, because the vacant space allowed existing airlines at Port Columbus to expand and add more service. With the addition of a nonstop flight from Columbus to Los Angeles operated by Delta Air Lines , Columbus now had non-stop flights to all of
1541-764: The F-100 Super Sabre , RA-5 Vigilante , T-2 Buckeye , T-28 Trojan , OV-10 Bronco and T-39 Sabreliner . The diagram on the February 1951 Coast & Geodetic Survey instrument-approach chart shows runways 006/186 3550 ft long, 052/232 4400 ft, 096/276 4500 ft, and 127/307 5030 ft. A new $ 12 million terminal building opened on September 21, 1958. Jet airline flights (American 707s) started in April 1964. The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 72 airline departures each weekday: 41 TWA , 16 American , 6 Eastern , 6 Lake Central and 3 Piedmont . The first major airline to fly into Columbus
1608-457: The Blue, Red and Green parking lots along International Gateway. The Blue lot is the closest to the terminal and also offers some covered parking. The cost of parking a car in the blue lot is $ 9 per 24 hours. The Red Lot costs $ 7 per 24 hours and the green lost costs $ 5 per 24 hours to park. The Green lot is the furthest away from the terminal. Additionally, there is a free cell phone lot accessed from
1675-491: The Columbus area. A number of taxi services provide outbound transportation in the taxi lane. In 2001, Executive Jet Aviation (now known as NetJets ), opened up a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m ) operational headquarters. In November 2006, Skybus Airlines began leasing 100,000 square feet (9,300 m ) of office and hangar facilities at the Columbus International AirCenter adjacent to
1742-502: The T-shirt style of their choice. Captain and First Officer uniforms did not have advertising and were of traditional airline style (olive green shirts with epaulettes and black ties). Skybus hubs (CMH and GSO) did not provide connection opportunities for passengers. Skybus highly discouraged connections; as such, passengers wishing to interchange at hubs would have to move bags between flights (on their own) as bags could not be checked on
1809-437: The aircraft. Seen in this photo is a flight attendant during the gift sales portion of a flight. Advertisements could also be seen throughout the cabin and exterior. This could include overhead bins, carpet, tray tables, and full-body exterior advertisements (see below). The price for interior advertisements was not released, though a company who purchased a full-body advertisement could also buy all interior advertisements for
1876-623: The airline also announced its intention to expand rapidly. The expansion plans were not envisioned in the original business plan, and, in some instances, it expanded to cities that management did not choose on the basis of computer models used with its initial destination cities (Chattanooga, TN, for example). As part of its business model , Skybus favored smaller, cheaper airports near major markets. To serve Boston, for example, Skybus chose Portsmouth (New Hampshire) International Airport . Skybus marketed itself as an ultra-low-cost carrier, selling ten seats on each flight for $ 10. The low fares came with
1943-743: The airline in that city. Two years later, the Skybus board hired Bill Diffenderffer as its CEO. Diffenderffer's prior airline experience was as in-house counsel for Eastern Airlines and CEO of Continental Airlines System One Reservations. At the time Skybus began operations it was the most heavily capitalized (funded) airline in US history. Its founder, John Weikle, resigned one day after Skybus began its first passenger flights. On April 24, 2007, Skybus Airlines announced their initial set of eight destinations, all of which originated from their hub at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus. At first, Skybus operated
2010-422: The airport completed a $ 140 million runway improvement that moved the south runway farther from the north runway. This created a buffer distance that enables simultaneous takeoffs and landings on the north and south runways, increasing air traffic volume. Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman commented, "As the city grows, the airport needs to grow with it." In 2019, construction began on a new car rental facility at
2077-475: The airport in May 2023. Sun Country Airlines announced a plan to fly to the airport during the 2023 summer season. Plans have been in development for many years for a new terminal, set to begin construction in 2025 to replace the current, aging building, beginning with the new car rental facility completed in 2021. In spring 2023, the airport prepared for a record travel summer matching traffic levels from before
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2144-794: The airport is not used to receiving on a regular basis, such as the Boeing 767 and 777, are chartered through John Glenn and serviced by Lane Aviation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , many new, current, and to-be-expanded routes were canceled or reduced. Air Canada temporarily suspended service to Columbus, while airlines such as United, American, and Delta used smaller aircraft for some of their mainline routes. Many of these routes saw an increase of service in mid-2021 as restrictions lifted and demand for air travel grew. Startup Breeze Airways also selected Columbus as one of its launch destinations in July 2021 with five routes. The airline added additional routes from
2211-487: The airport's nine-member board on May 24, 2016. Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law on June 14, 2016, with the name change becoming official 90 days later. On June 28, 2016, a celebration of the renaming was held and new signage bearing the airport's new name was unveiled. The airport opened July 8, 1929 as the Columbus Municipal Hangar on a site selected by Charles Lindbergh , as
2278-457: The airport, with an estimated budget of $ 140 million. This facility moves car rental out of the parking garage, opening up more spaces for travelers. The new building opened in late 2021, and utilizes electric buses to transport passengers. Many airlines introduced new routes in the late 2010s, with the addition of Spirit Airlines with multiple destinations and Alaska Airlines with one daily flight to Seattle. Occasionally, larger aircraft that
2345-490: The airport. John Glenn Columbus International Airport is primarily a passenger airport. It provides 148 non-stop flights to 31 airports via nine airlines daily. On May 25, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename the airport from Port Columbus International Airport to its current name, in honor of astronaut and four-term U.S. senator John Glenn . The name change was unanimously approved by
2412-440: The airport. Regional carrier Republic Airways operates a large crew and maintenance base at the airport. The airport has its own police and fire departments (ARFF-C). For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 98,185 aircraft movements, an average of 269 per day. This was 65% commercial , 19% general aviation , 16% air taxi , and <1% military . For the same time period, 88 aircraft were based at
2479-446: The average airline pilot wage is approximately $ 135,000 averaged between first officer and captain pay. Skybus was one of the few 100% non-union airlines in the United States at the time of its shutdown (among mainline airlines, only JetBlue Airways was 100% non-union at the time, but its pilots are now represented by ALPA ). However, it was facing a union organizing campaign from its pilots, who had collected enough signatures to hold
2546-458: The cheapest round-trip ticket for one adult would have cost approximately $ 40. Skybus charged extra fees for almost everything other than the ticket itself. This is common among European low-cost carriers, but was almost unheard of at the time among major US carriers. Carry-on baggage (one bag plus one personal item) was free, but checked bags incurred an additional charge. The first two bags less than fifty pounds were $ 10 each online or $ 12 each at
2613-445: The combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier." Skybus was the fourth United States-based airline to shut down or announce future plans to shut down the week of March 31, 2008, following Aloha Airlines ' passenger operations, ATA Airlines and charter airline Champion Air . At the time of the shutdown, Skybus employed about 450 people, mostly in
2680-546: The company closed the hub in 2003 due to financial losses and the post-9/11-decline in air travel. The airport was the home base of short-lived Skybus Airlines , which began operations from Columbus on May 22, 2007. The airline touted themselves as the cheapest airline in the United States , offering a minimum of ten seats for $ 10 each on every flight. Skybus ceased operations April 4, 2008. A $ 70 million renovation of airport facilities, designed by Brubaker/Brandt ,
2747-578: The continental United States : From Columbus ( Port Columbus International Airport ): From Greensboro / High Point ( Piedmont Triad International Airport ): Skybus conducted its inaugural flight on May 22, 2007, when the airline began flights from the Port Columbus, OH base. The first service that did not have a Columbus end point began December 17, 2007, when Skybus began flights between Portsmouth and St. Augustine as well as Punta Gorda, Florida . On October 16, 2007, Skybus announced it
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2814-435: The counter, with each additional bag after two incurring a charge of $ 50 per bag. Overweight baggage, those weighing over fifty but under seventy-five pounds, was charged an extra $ 25, and all bags over seventy-five pounds were not accepted. Skybus did not through-check luggage onto connecting flights. Customers connecting on Skybus flights in Columbus were required to collect any checked luggage, then re-check it in Columbus for
2881-413: The crew far fewer hours away from home (known as TAFB or time away from base) and higher crew utilization rates for more efficient work schedules. Typical Skybus pilot workdays were 8–10 hours long ( FAA maximum is 16 hours), which was lower than the industry average of 12–14 hours. Typical pilot work months were 14–15 days with no overnights. The average pilot in the US has a work month of 16–17 days, and
2948-670: The eastern air terminus of the Transcontinental Air Transport air-rail New York to Los Angeles transcontinental route. Passengers traveled overnight on the Pennsylvania Railroad 's Airway Limited from New York to Columbus; by air from Columbus to Waynoka , Oklahoma; by rail again on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from Waynoka to Clovis , New Mexico; and by air from Clovis to Los Angeles. The original terminal building and hangars remain;
3015-490: The framework for union activity among other Skybus employee groups. (Note that there is precedent for unionized pilots with most other employee groups remaining non-union, as is the case at Delta Air Lines .) While cutting costs was a high priority for Skybus, revenue was their primary focus. Skybus aircraft were outfitted as flying gift shops, selling soda, food, perfumes, handbags, jewelry, watches, clothing, and toiletries. Customers could purchase these items duty-free on board
3082-512: The hangars are still in use, but the old terminal sits derelict. During World War II, most of the facility was taken over by the U.S. Navy , which established Naval Air Station Columbus in 1942. NAS Columbus was closed and the facility relinquished back to civilian authorities in 1946. Also, during the war, the government established a government-owned aviation factory on the grounds of the airport known as Air Force Factory 85 , eventually operated by North American Aviation . The plant produced
3149-516: The incentives. Incentives such as airport improvements, however, were already completed. When Skybus began operations, they took advantage of $ 11 million of improvements to their gates in Concourse B at Port Columbus. Skybus was financed by numerous high-profile companies nationwide and locally. As of April 2, 2007, Skybus had raised an estimated $ 160 million in startup capital which includes $ 72.7 million in their second round of fund raising. That
3216-450: The letters "SB" for Skybus. This design was not the standard livery for all Skybus aircraft, however, as its airplanes were available as "branded airplanes" to any company that paid $ 500,000 per year for this. A branded airplane featured a full-body advertisement along the fuselage , with the tail and engines of the plane remaining in the Skybus paint scheme. The first sponsored aircraft, aircraft N522VA leased from Virgin America , promoted
3283-474: The major airline hubs in the United States. Their vacancy also made room for AirTran Airways . On October 26, 2006, Skybus announced a deal with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to buy 65 of its Airbus A319 aircraft. The order carried an estimated retail price of $ 3.7 billion, though the actual price Skybus would have paid had not been announced. Additionally, the aircraft were going to come with
3350-488: The need for a reservations call center. Flight attendants were paid $ 9 per flight hour, and were not paid a per diem . While this was considerably lower than competing airlines' wages, flight attendants also received 10% of all sales made during the flight, splitting all commissions evenly among all flight attendants on board. Starting pilot wages were also well below average in terms of hourly rate, starting at $ 65,000 annually for Captains, and $ 30,000 for First Officers as
3417-701: The opening of a new hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina . On January 8. 2008, Service began in New York ( Stewart International Airport / Newburgh, NY ), On February 6, 2008, Skybus announced that it would end service to the West Coast effective in June, except for a single daily nonstop to Burbank. On March 8, 2008, Skybus landed its first flight at Wilmington-Philadelphia Regional Airport , south of Wilmington, Delaware,
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#17327874213553484-613: The outbound side of International Gateway. The Columbus Metropolitan Area's bus service, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), has a bus service between the airport and downtown Columbus. COTA's 7 Mt. Vernon route is operated from downtown, with every other bus serving either the airport or Easton Transit Center. The GoBus Rural Inter-City Bus Service operates a thrice daily schedule to Athens , via Lancaster , Logan , and Nelsonville . Inbound taxi services operate through numerous taxi businesses in
3551-565: The plane. Exceptions included baby formula or baby food, special food for those with a medical condition such as diabetes or severe food allergies, or those with dietary restrictions (Kosher, Halal, etc.). In an effort to keep maintenance and operating costs to a minimum, most equipment purchased was uniform. This covered the full range of equipment, from engines, to electrical components, to personnel gear. Because of this, Skybus planned on paying significantly less on employee training and for equipment service. Another major method of cost reduction
3618-467: The promotional $ 10 fare. Other fares promoted by Skybus included a $ 20.08 fare sale (plus fees and taxes) to some of the airline's less popular destinations, to celebrate the New Year. Ticket prices for the remaining fares were expected to be around half the price of other airlines. These fares did not include taxes and other airport fees, however, which add about $ 10 to a one-way ticket. All fees included,
3685-408: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Skybus . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skybus&oldid=927661392 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
3752-590: The same type until the new aircraft were to begin delivery in late 2008. On February 14, 2007, Skybus announced they had chosen the CFM56-5B engine built by CFM International to power the 65 A319 aircraft on order from Airbus. The actual price Skybus would have paid for the engines was not disclosed, but the list price for the order is estimated at over $ 750 million. As of April 2008, the Skybus Airlines fleet consisted of 13 Airbus A319 aircraft (out of
3819-662: The second flight. Even though Skybus did not through-check luggage, delayed luggage was a continuing problem for its outsourced ground crews. Seating was first-come, first-served. Passengers paid an extra $ 10 per person per direction for priority seating, which allowed a passenger to board right after passengers with disabilities. On board, everything from food and drinks to pillows had an additional charge; once purchased, items did not need to be returned. In order to maximize revenue from these fees, Skybus attempted to strictly enforce its no outside food and drink policy. The airline required passengers dispose of food and drink before boarding
3886-721: The theme "Nationwide is on Your Side" Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company . It was created by an airplane media company, SkyBrand , based in Seattle. Skybus had also had some self-advertising on the orange tails of its white planes that read, "Skybus. $ 10 Fares ... Only Birds Fly Cheaper." The company's standard font was Frutiger , itself created for the travel industry in 1974 for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France . The first leased aircraft for Skybus that came from Virgin America, had 144 seats on board, and flew with three flight attendants. Flight attendant uniforms were also used as
3953-507: The time, and later housed hubs for both America West Airlines until 2003, and Skybus Airlines until they shut it down in 2008 due to their bankruptcy. A north concourse was completed in 1996, which is now Concourse C, and was expanded in 2002. Between 1998 and 2000, numerous airport expansion and renovation projects were completed, including a $ 25 million terminal renovation in 1998 that included additional retail shops, new flight information displays, enhanced lighting, upgraded flooring, and
4020-514: The two airlines), Skybus had committed itself to be the least expensive airline in the industry with a projected CASM 28% lower than Southwest. To achieve this, Skybus planned to utilize multiple measures designed to increase revenue and decrease costs, many of which are now used by Spirit Airlines . Advertised fares to all of the former target cities began at US$ 10 one-way; the price increased as more tickets were sold for that flight. Advertisements suggest that ten seats on each flight were sold at
4087-400: Was TWA , and it kept a presence at Columbus over 70 years during the era of airline regulation. TWA offered a club for exclusive passengers up until 2000 when America West took over a gate held by TWA and the club itself due to financial problems. The site of the club is now Eddie George ‘s 27 grille. Columbus was formerly a hub of America West Airlines , which it opened in 1993, but
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#17327874213554154-720: Was all service to/from Chattanooga, TN, would end on April 14, 2008, along with a cut from two to one daily flight from Greensboro, NC, and Wilmington, DE, and elimination of the Greensboro, NC, and Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, flight. On April 4, 2008, Skybus announced the cessation of all flights effective with the last scheduled departure of the day. Service was set to begin on June 1, 2008, between Boston ( Portsmouth, NH ), Springfield, MA , ( Chicopee, MA ), Punta Gorda, FL, St. Augustine, FL , and Richmond, VA . Attempting to emulate Ryanair 's business model and Southwest 's people-friendly attitude (often considered at odds in comparisons of
4221-652: Was among the largest amounts of start-up funding in the history of airlines. By comparison, JetBlue Airways , which began operations in 1999, raised $ 130 million prior to starting ($ 157 million adjusted for inflation). Skybus Airlines' startup finances were provided by a number of large investors. These included Fidelity Investments (12.6% ownership), Morgan Stanley (6.4%), Nationwide Mutual Capital (5%), and Tiger Management (4.1%). Smaller investors included: Huntington Capital Investment Co. , Wolfe Enterprises (former owner of The Columbus Dispatch , WBNS-TV , and WTHR-TV ), and Battelle Services Co. Inc. Skybus reported
4288-474: Was eliminating service to San Diego and Bellingham , and cutting one flight a day to Burbank . The cuts were made due to rising fuel costs as it was more cost effective to use the current fleet on shorter and more profitable runs. At the same time, Skybus said it would add a second daily flight to Greensboro, North Carolina , which was now its second focus city, and a third seasonal daily flight to Punta Gorda, Florida . On October 22, 2007, Skybus announced
4355-577: Was heavily reliant on flying routes where other airlines did not have direct flights, as Ryanair did in Europe, thus keeping competition to a minimum, and on flying into secondary airports, rather than heavily trafficked ones. The airline also sold advertising space on the interior and exterior of its aircraft, as well as selling merchandise on board. Skybus applied for operating approval on January 1, 2005, received approval to operate on March 15, 2006, and FAA certification on May 10, 2007. It had been granted
4422-401: Was initiated in 1979 for the airport's 50th anniversary and completed in 1981. This upgraded the airport's capacity to 250 flights per day by adding what is known today as Concourse B and added fully enclosed jetways at every gate. Ten years later in 1989, a second, $ 15.5 million, seven-gate south concourse (now Concourse A) was dedicated. The concourse was used exclusively by US Airways at
4489-448: Was to utilize secondary airports, which are generally less congested and charge less to lease space though they may be farther from the advertised destination. To save even more money at the airport, passengers boarded directly from the apron instead of using the jetway , saving both loading/unloading time as well as operating costs. Finally, ticket sales were entirely online. This not only saved on employee costs, but completely eliminated
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