Fly Port Columbus

Airtran Flights Begin November 6th

2008-09-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Port Columbus will welcome the first Airtran flights on November 6th, with flights to Atlanta, Fort Myers, and Orlando. Judging on the popularity of now defunct Skybus flights to Florida destinations, look for the Airtran routes to the sunshine state to be popular. Atlanta should also be popular, as it gives Columbus fliers a legitimate and much cheaper alternative to Delta, who was charging over $400 for a round trip direct flight to Hotlanta. Columbus, Airtran is coming, giving us more options to jet to the southeast.

What about future Aitran destinations from C-bus? I'd like to see flights to Boston and Baltimore. From Baltimore, my wife and I could transfer to a flight to Portland Maine, one of our favorite destinations. We'll see what happens, but my gut feeling is that Port Columbus and Airtran are headed for a long, prosperous relationship.

Tom

Flying in Columbus

2008-09-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hi All- I started this blog to follow the airline Skybus, but since Skybus has flown into the sunset, I'm going to start following aviation in Columbus, especially Port Columbus. The biggest news to come to Columbus? Airtran will soon be here, and rumor has it, they will be occupying Skybus' old space downstairs in Terminal B.

I've flown Airtran once, a short flight from Akron to Laguardia. Everything went fairly smooth and the ticket was cheap. Does anyone else have anything to add about Airtran?

Tom

US Air to fly Skybus Passengers back to Columbus and Greensboro

2008-04-05T03:15:00.000-07:00

US Airways to Assist Skybus Airlines Customers Affected by Suspension of Service

US Airways (NYSE: LCC) will accept tickets for standby travel from passengers who were scheduled to fly on Skybus Airlines flights to/from Skybus’ former operational centers at Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, N.C. Skybus customers will be able to travel on a space available standby basis for a $50 fare per person per non-stop segment plus any applicable taxes and fees on US Airways flights to/from Columbus and Greensboro and the cities below. Some US Airways service points are near but not precisely the airports Skybus had served. US Airways will transport Skybus customers to the airport nearest their Skybus ticketed destination. Boston (BOS) Hartford, Conn. (BDL) Newburgh, N.Y. (SWF) Philadelphia Richmond, Va. Chattanooga, Tenn. Jacksonville, Fla. Daytona Beach, Fla. Fort Myers, Fla. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Milwaukee Kansas City Burbank, Calif. Los Angeles (LAX) Oakland, Calif. San Francisco (SFO) Travel must be completed by April 11, 2008 and travelers are advised that space is very limited. Standby tickets may be purchased exclusively through US Airways reservations at 800-428-4322. Reservations fees do not apply for this special fare. Customers will not be able to purchase these fares at the airport. At time of check-in customers must show proof of purchase on Skybus to take advantage of this special offer. Proof may include an e-ticket confirmation letter, an e-ticket receipt, an e-ticket itinerary card or paper tickets printed by Skybus. US Airways agents will not be able to accept photocopies. US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing more than 36,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,800 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. US Airways is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers our customers 17,000 daily flights to 897 destinations in 160 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at www.usairways.com. (LCCG) -Fly With US-

erschienen am 05.04.2008 um 06:27 Uhr

Skybus Bankruptcy effective tonight at 12:01

2008-04-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

That's what the credit card company told Megan when she called to ask about a refund. Man, I'm still in shock. This just happened so quickly, but I shouldn't be surprised.

We're all thinking of the people stranded across the country, and for the families of the flight attendants, pilots and all the other 400 staff of skybus, not to mention the vendors and contractors that have helped the airline get off their feet. We'll miss you Skybus.

Tom

Goodbye Skybus.com

2008-04-04T18:04:00.001-07:00

I copied this directly from Skybus.com:

Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective Saturday, April 5.

Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.

We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our employees and their families, customers, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.

Passengers holding reservations for Skybus flights scheduled to depart on or after Saturday, April 5, 2008 should contact their credit card companies to arrange to apply for a refund. More information for customers and others will be made available on the Skybus web site (www.skybus.com) as it becomes available.

All flights for Friday, April 4 will be completed. Passengers holding reservations on flights for Friday, April 4 should check in for their flight at a Skybus kiosk at the airport instead of the Skybus website.

More From the Dispatch

2008-04-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is an absolute NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, April 4, 2008 8:20 PM

By Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Dispatch photo

The first Skybus flight leaves Port Columbus on the morning of May 17, 2007.

Hot Issue

What's your reaction to the closing of Skybus? Click here to comment.

Disrupted travel plans?

If the end of Skybus affects your travel plans, e-mail us at readernet@dispatch.com. Some comments will be used in upcoming stories.

Skybus Airlines, a Columbus carrier that excited central Ohio travelers with its $10 fares, is calling it quits.

The news came quickly today, with the airline planning to announce at 9:30 p.m. that it will no longer be in business Saturday.

After today, all flights are canceled.

Those holding tickets for future flights are advised to contact their credit card companies about obtaining refunds.

Skybus is not providing alternate transportation. Those who purchased trip insurance within the last month should make any claims through the Skybus insurance provider, AIG TravelGuard. The policy that went into effect in early March covers airline-caused cancellations; the previous policy did not.

As of today, Skybus was making 80 daily flights to 15 cities around the U.S. It made its first flight from its home base at Port Columbus on May 22 of last year and opened a second base in Greensboro, N.C. in January.

Skybus has approximately 450 employees. Of those, 350 are based in Columbus, with the remainder in Greensboro.

SKYBUS IS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-04T17:34:00.001-07:00

From Dispatch.com:

Skybus shuts down, cancels all flights 8:16 PM

Skybus Airlines, a Columbus carrier that excited central Ohio travelers with its $10 fares, is calling it quits.

The news came quickly today, with the airline planning to announce at 9:30 p.m. that it will no longer be in business Saturday. After today, all flights are canceled.

This is bad, bad news for thousands of people across the country.

The SKYBUS experiment did not work.

Skybus, it was GREAT while it lasted.

Bud Takes Off from Skybus

2008-04-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Bud Sittig, the vice president of operations of Skybus Airlines, resigned this week. Megan and I had the fortune to sit next to Bud on a Skybus flight from Pease to Columbus last August, and we were quite impressed. He was professional and showed a clear commitment to safety. He even gave us his card, which listed his Skybus phone number! I flew Skybus confidently knowing that I had met the person that had hired every pilot and flight attendant. In the end, the super tight turnarounds that the airline had planned were not working out- there were too many late flights. Maybe Bud was the fall guy for late flights, but who really knows what happened. Bud, best of luck to you.

Tom

Boarding a Skybus Plane

2008-04-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Want to know what the inside of a Skybus Airbus a319 looks like? Watch this video!

Tom

Skybus Flight Attendants

2008-03-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

Every time I've flown Skybus, I have found the flight attendants do a fairly good job of keeping everyone entertained. Yes, they have quite different attitudes than your typical legacy carrier cabin worker, but in general, they are pleasant, and have always met our needs. And we always tip them, since they are working for a measly $9.00 bucks an hour. During this training video, they don't seem to mind the low wage, as they are all happy and smiling. I think I even recognize one of the trainees in this picture, the woman with the white shirt and light blue scarf.

Skybus Videos- How cool?

2008-03-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

You Tube is absolutely loaded with videos about Skybus, and even from Skybus themselves. Check this one out:

Skybus now a "Struggling" Airline?

2008-03-27T14:37:00.001-07:00

It is quite amazing how rosy and happy the Skybus story was up until about two weeks ago, when the first leaks showed difficult times ahead for the airline. First, routes were cut, and then, CEO Bill Diffenderffer resigned.

The Columbus Dispatch, whose owner also is invested in Skybus, is now categorizing the airline as struggling.

Today, word leaked out that the city of Melbourne, Florida, would love to have the airline land along the space coast. We'll see what Skybus will do, but don't count on seeing orange planes land and take off unless the city and airport ponies up some incentives for the start-up and now struggling carrier.

I'm amazed how gung-ho and happy we all were about Skybus less than a year ago. Now, I'm wondering if my future flights will be re-scheduled due to route changes, or even worse, dropped altogether!

Tom

Skybus Pilots to Unionize?

2008-03-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

I'm a union member, and I can see why Skybus Pilots would want to unionize- They don't make much money compared to other pilots. If this does happen, look for ticket prices to go up, up, up.

From today's Columbus Dispatch-

"Skybus also faces a drive by its pilots to unionize, with a vote expected in the next month on possible representation by the Teamsters. Skybus pilots say they are paid significantly less than the industry average."

I don't doubt they are not paid very well, but these pilots began working with Skybus knowing full well what they were getting themselves into. Perhaps Skybus really is making money and they are just looking for a bigger piece of the pie? Only time will tell. Again, more signs that the Skybus honeymoon is over.

Tom

Skybus CEO Resigns

2008-03-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

I Always looked as Bill Diffenderffer as Skybus's biggest cheerleader. Today, he resigned as CEO of the young airline, to be replaced by 35 year old Mike Hodge, who has been with the Airline since March 2007.

Has the Skybus honeymoon ended? I'd say that is a sure bet. Let's see where Mike takes the airline. I'll still continue to fly as long as they offer $10 and $35 fares.

Tom

Making Sense of the Skybus Route Changes

2008-03-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Clearly, the management team at Skybus is being realistic about the experiment that is Skybus. A ton of great people have put their money on the line (at least $160 million dollars of start up capital was raised, not to mention the tax breaks the airline has received across the country), and they are going to want to see a quick return on their investment.

The biggest changes for Columbus-

The Chattanooga flight is being dropped as of April 15. I guess I won't make it to the Tennessee Aquarium after all.

Niagra falls isn't in the mix- yet. The Niagra Gazette is saying that Skybus is merely delaying flights from CMH to this western New York location, but this may be wishful thinking. Service was to begin April 1st.

Also, the planned second daily flight from CMH to Milwaukee, scheduled to begin April 1st, will also be scrapped

And, a total of five flights a day are being eliminated from North Carolina's Piedmont's Triad airport that services the Greensboro area.

Beginning April 15, Skybus will stop serving New Orleans (really Gulfport-Biloxi), and in addition, only one flight per day will be offered to Stewart (NY), Wilmington (DE), Punta Gorda (FL), and Gary (IN). Gary service just started, so they really haven't even given that route a chance.

What Skybus does know is that people love flying to Florida. The planes that are removed from these routes will be now utilized to fly folks from Chicopee Massachusetts to both St. Augustine, and Punta Gorda, Florida. I look for those planes to be full once northeasterns realize just how cheaply they can get to the sunshine state. Service begins June 1st.

New service from Stewart (NY) to Portsmouth (NH), will also be added, at least through the summer, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Finally, our friends in Richmond Virginia will be able to fly to St. Augustine beginning June 1. All in all, quite a few changes from our friends at Skybus.

The bottom line? Skybus is showing that its management team is realistic and will do whatever that needs to be done to make the experiment that is Skybus work AND make money.

Tom

Thousands of new $10 Fares

2008-03-19T03:42:00.001-07:00

Have you purchased your $10.00 tickets yet? They are going fast!

Tom

Thoughts on Skybus

2008-03-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Megan and I are sitting in the Skybus waiting area as I write these words. We're headed to Punta Gorda Florida, where we'll be renting a car and then driving to Sanibel Island. We took advantage of Skybus waiving their $40 change fee, and instead of leaving yesterday during the blizzard event yesterday, we are flying out on this morning's 11:30 am flight. Our originally scheduled flight was able to get out yesterady, despite the blizzard conditions, however, I'm not sure that we would have been able to drive to the airport during the blizzard. 90% of all Port Columbus flights were canceled yesterday. We saw several people camped out, looking might tired. I just hope everyone is able to get home safely now that the snow has stopped.

Tom

Skybus Becomes #1 Airline at Port Columbus

2008-02-26T18:14:00.000-08:00

Passenger figures are out for December 2007, and the Columbus Dispatch reports this evening that Skybus overtook Southwest as this City's #1 carrier in terms of passengers.

Congratulations Skybus, here is to continued growth.

Tom

Skybus Prepares for Tomorrow's Bad Weather

2008-02-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

The Columbus Dispatch reports this evening that Skybus will waive their usual $40 change fee in anticipation of snowy and icy weather predicted at Port Columbus over the next 12 hours. If your travel plans are flexible, it may be worth a roll of the dice to get a different flight, especially if the price difference is negligible.

If your Skybus flight is canceled, each passenger gets a refund or booking on a future Skybus flight.

As of 8:48 Thursday evening, no flights have been scrubbed.

Delta, Midwest Drop Flights From Port Columbus

2008-02-18T17:25:00.001-08:00

Although Skybus has increased Port Columbus' flying options, there have been casualties. As the Columbus Dispatch points out, Jet Blue left the airport after less than a year, and Delta dropped its non-stop flight from CMH to LAX. Now, Delta is dropping its non-stop to Ft. Lauderdale, and Midwest will stop direct service to Kansas City. Skybus serves both cities.

A few things about this move. I love Skybus. When I'm on vacation. If I'm traveling on business, I'd much rather take Midwest or Delta, especially since they have agreements with other airlines in case of cancellations or major screw ups. Skybus, unfortunately, does not offer such services.

Port Columbus has certainly gained a great deal from Skybus. It is unfortunate, however, that travelers here in town are losing choices, and in the long term, that is a losing situation for passengers.

Will Portsmouth be the Next Skybus Focus City?

2008-02-17T02:07:00.000-08:00

I'd put my money on it. Megan and I frequently fly to Portsmouth, New Hampshire from Columbus and our flights are well booked.

USA Today in the sky has great insight about the Portsmouth Airport.

A planned $5 million expansion at the airport leads me to believe that Skybus will be flying in and out of Portland much more often come 2009.

Skybus Raises Baggage Fees from $5 to $12 Per Pag

2008-02-17T00:48:00.000-08:00

Well, every new airline is an experiment, and Skybus is certainly no exception. I must tell you, Megan and have not minded paying the $5 per bag per flight charge, but now, the airline is increasing this cost to $12.00, according to the The Florida-Times Union. Checking the bag online will set you back only $10.00

The cost of priority boarding, which gets you onto the plane before everyone else, is also increasing, going from $10 to $12.50.

The airline cites rising fuel costs for the increased charges. Look for the new fee structure beginning in early March.

Will these changes affect your use of Skybus?

Tom

Skybus to Begin Flying to Cities other than Columbus!

2007-09-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

This morning i received a Skybus e-mail announcing service from Portsmouth New Hampshire to Punta Gorda and Ft. Lauderdale. Service begins December 17th, and a quick search this morning revealed $10 tickets for every day in December.

Four New Skybus Destinations

2007-09-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

This morning, Skybus added Milwaukee, Chattanooga, Gulfport-Biloxi, and Punta Gorda to their lineup. Plenty of $10 tickets available, beginning with flights on Decemeber 5th. Unfortunately, Skybus is still not selling any tickets beyond March 5th.

Have fun gobbling up those tickets!

Tom

Skybus and Punta Gorda, Finally

2007-09-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

It looks like tiny Charlotte County airport will finally become Columbus based carrier Skybus' next and newest destination. I've known about this one for a while, and even heard it from a top executive at the airline that just happened to be sitting with my wife and I. Charlotte County has built a brand new terminal from the ground up for Skybus, and the destination will be popular. Southwest Florida, meet Columbus.

Look for the news at 11:00 tomorrow morning. The next question: When will Skybus release tickets for these flights? Time will tell.

Tom

A Skybus Narrative

2007-07-31T19:22:00.000-07:00

Its amazing how much information is out there in the blogsphere.

Kylie, from Columbus, wrote a nice little narrative about her Skybus trip to Portsmouth New Hampshire on her MySpace blog. The two things I took from her post: 1. Tons of kids fly on Skybus and 2. Many of the passengers were new to flying. I'm guessing this market is exactly what Skybus was trying to target. Get people on airplanes that normally wouldn't get on them. It seems to be working. I read in the Columbus dispatch that the new airline transported over 60,000 people in June alone, their first full month of operation.

Checking in With Skybus

2007-07-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Jamie Rhein has written quite a nice analysis about the online check-in process that Skybus offers on their website. Although I wasn't quite clear about some of the details, this writeup is definitely worth reading if you have purchased a Skybus ticket. Link courtesy of Gadling, the traveler's weblog.

Skybus, First Hand Account: Checking-In

More Skybus Reviews

2007-07-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Now that Skybus has been flying for two months, there are quite a few reviews that run the gamut from scathing to down right encouraging. Yelp.com has four nice reviews here:

Skybus Reviews

Skybus Hasn't Pleased Everyone

2007-07-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday's Skybus cancellation of a flight from Columbus to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, did not turn out well. It sounds like Skybus needs to work on a "plan B" if their flights are canceled. The Hunter family from New Hampshire details their 28 hour trip from Columbus to Portsmouth in an article at Seacoastonline.com. The bottom line? I don't think this family will be flying on Skybus in the future.

Skybus 'nightmare' sours local family

Skybus receives DOT approval for Cancun, Nassau

2007-07-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Thats right, as reported here on the Skybus Blog, Skybus will be flying to these two popular vacation destinations from Columbus. No tickets on sale yet, but the airline says that Cancun flights will commence October 1st 2007, with service to the Bahamas beginning in early 2008.

Skybus gets OK for Mexico, Bahamas flights

People Like Skybus

2007-07-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

Skybus reviews are popping up on blogs all across the internet.

Here is one such review:

Thoughts on Skybus

Skybus has First Cancellation

2007-07-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Columbus Dispatch did an excellent writeup on Skybus Airline's first cancellation. Last Thursday's flight from Port Columbus to Portsmouth New Hampshire didn't make it due to stormy weather near Pease airport. It sounds like the Skybus plane actually landed in Hartford Connecticut, finally turning back for Columbus. Some passengers were able to make it to Portsmouth the next day, while others had their money refunded.

Weather forces first cancellation for Skybus.

Skybus a319 Photos

2007-07-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have not ridden Skybus, here is what you can expect when you fly out of Port Columbus International Airport here in Columbus, Ohio. Notice the cones around the planes. They help guide passengers to and from the aircraft. Yep, that's right, Skybus does not use jetways. This speeds up the deplaning process. I felt I was lucky to capture, at that time, three of the four operating Skybus planes when my wife and I flew out on United flight to Montana.

Tom

Skybus already an industry leader?

2007-07-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that other airlines may follow Skybus for charging for checked baggage and priority boarding. The airlines are looking for anyway to increase revenue without raising fares.

"That's Extra"

Skybus Food Options

2007-07-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here's what you'll have to choose from when flying Skybus. This sign hangs in the Skybus area at Port Columbus International Aiport. In about a month, I'll be flying Skybus for the first time. I wonder if the wraps are any good?

Skybus area at Port Columbus Airport

2007-07-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I posted a picture of the check-in area at Port Columbus, and tonight, I thought I'd post another picture for all potential Skybus passengers. Here we have the entrance to the Skybus area in terminal B. After entering, you turn left and go down a long series of ramps! I walked down the somewhat annoying ramp, and I arrived at, well, what did resemble a bus garage. There was long line of people waiting to go out onto the tarmac and board a plane. Yes, the line was long, a good sign, since I'm pulling for Skybus to succeed, and, the more passengers the better.

Tom

Skybus releases more $10 tickets

2007-07-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

I have been checking the Skybus website almost daily to see if they had started selling any tickets for flights after December 15th. They hadn't until today. Megan woke up this morning, quickly read her e-mail, and she had received a message from Skybus. Skybus has a mailing list, and both of us are on it. Anyways, we jumped on Skybus.com and purchased tickets for a our yearly winter trip to Norway, Maine via Portsmouth New Hampshire. All legs of the trip are costings us $10 a person, and with tax, I think the total for the trip was something like $76. We have three trips now booked to Portsmouth.

This afternoon, I jumped on to see how much tickets were going for for popular destinations like Florida, California, and Washington state. Most tickets were already up to $100 a route! Not $10, but still, not too bad. The Columbus Dispatch ran with the story this morning, and also detailed some of the glitches that Skybus has had so far, namely running out of food during long flights and having problems being on time. If you are flying on Skybus, these articles are required reading!

Tickets on Sale for Winter Flights

Airline's Glitches Not Seen as Serious

St. Augustine Busily Preparing for Skybus

2007-07-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Skybus makes its first flight to St. Augustine Florida on July 18th. The local airport, which is preparing for its first commercial flight, has been busily upgrading their facilities to accommodate Skybus. Only thirty minutes to Jacksonville, sixty minutes or so to Daytona Beach, and ninety minutes to Orlando, this should be a popular destination, especially during Ohio's cold and nasty winters.

St. Augustine Airport Buzzing With Changes.

All signs point too........Punta Gorda!

2007-07-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

It looks like Skybus and Punta Gorda Florida are trying to hook up. Well, at least it looks like tiny Charlotte County airport may be thinking about getting commercial flights. Several experts have said this idea is bound to fail, but I would sure like to fly to southwestern Florida from Columbus for only ten bucks! Check out these articles for more on Skybus and Punta Gorda.

Aero-News Network

AirpotBusiness.com

Skybus Ticket Counter at Port Columbus

2007-07-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

My wife and I flew through Port Columbus on United Airlines this past week, and we had the opportunity to check out the digs of Columbus based Skybus Airlines. Over the next few days, I'll post some of the photos from our little scouting trip. First up is the ticket counter. There were three, yes three employees hanging out at the counter, and one of them was actually sitting down! I was kinda shocked by this, since Skybus is all about efficiency and saving money. The mere fact that one was sitting down was quite unprofessional. Lets hope the company takes care of this. Idle employees means that my $10 tickets could even be cheaper! Anyways, the check-in kiosks looked pretty typical, but they were painted with orange and even had fake wood on the side. Nice Touch. So, from just looking at the check-in table, I'll give the overall appearance an 8, but the fact there were idle employees, one sitting down, rates about a 3. Stay tuned, in the upcoming days I'll have pictures of the boarding area, the aircraft, and boarding procedure!

Nobosh Details Skybus

2007-07-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Nobosh, a financial news and rumors blog written by readers, has posted a very nice article on Skybus. For those of you that are new to Skybus, there are many things about this discount airline that separate it from others. For one, you need to arrive at the airport at least thirty minutes prior to takeoff. If you aren't checked in by then, you won't get on your plane. For me, the $10 tickets make up for the rather strict rules of this new, "ala-carte" airline. However, if I'm paying $200 for a Skybus ticket, which is possible, I may not be as patient.

Skybus Airlines: Flying at a Discount May Come With a Price

Skybus Review

2007-07-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

"The 270" blog has posted a nice, quick review of flying on Skybus to Burbank, California. I thought it was most interesting, that even though the blogger brought food and water onboard, something that goes against the "Skybus Rules of Flying", he wasn't harassed. He even suggests buying a drink from the flight attendants, and even tipping them, since they only make $10 an hour. Check out his tips here.

Looking for a Vacation Ohioans? Consider Richmond!

2007-07-03T04:06:00.000-07:00

Steve Stephens, travel columnist for the Columbus Dispatch, detailed Richmond in this past Sunday's edition of the newspaper. Could Skybus be looking to boost ticket sales to Richmond, getting a little help from one of their investors, the Dispatch? I must say, Richmond does has much to offer, including many civil war historical sites. Jamestown, America's first permanent settlement, is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. Read about Richmond in Sunday's Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/travel/stories/2007/07/01/_RICHMOND.ART_ART_07-01-07_F1_DH74MUB.html.

Chicopee Airport Receives Grant

2007-06-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

Skybus Airlines is affecting commerce around the country. Westover Airport in Chicopee Massachusetts, which hasn't had regularly scheduled passenger service since the 1980's, will be the newest Skybus destination in mid July. The airport just received a $1.85 million grant to fund renovations and improvements. I have never been to Chicopee, but it sounds like the airport lacks basic needs such as parking! The grant will help double parking and provide for hangar improvements. Overall, Skybus has the advantage of flying to these super small, somewhat out of the way airports, in that passengers will not have to battle the masses at the typical mainstream airports. Anyways, just another reason to check out this brand new airline.

The latest news from Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Skybus Plane Photos

2007-06-28T17:08:00.001-07:00

Airliners.net has several excellent pictures of Skybus Airbus a319 aircraft. While the first Skybus plane is orange, later ones seem to be mostly white, leaving plenty of space for future advertisements. It doesn't look like any company has been brave enough to shell out five-hundred thousand dollars to sponsor an airplane.

Skybus looking to fly to Cancun, Nassau

2007-06-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

That's right, Skybus Airlines may soon be able to get you to the Bahamas and the resort land of Cancun Mexico. Its possible that Skybus may begin flying to at least one of these destinations in 2007, while the second would come online sometime in 2008. This only makes sense for skybus. Currently, there aren't any regularly scheduled flights to either of these destinations from Port Columbus, and you have to figure people will eat up these cheap international flights like mice flocking to peanut butter! Read about Skybus' international plans in today's Columbus Dispatch.

Skybus Heading to Austin Texas?

2007-06-27T20:07:00.001-07:00

No routes have been announced, but rumor has it that Austin Texas may be one of Skybus Airlines next destinations. In fact, airport authorities there are looking to build a new terminal for ultra low cost carriers like skybus. Read about Skybus and Austin at Airportbusiness.com

Chicopee Prepares for Skybus

2007-06-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

Skybus will begin flying to Chicopee Massachusetts, via Westover Metropolitan airport beginning July 5th. Read about Chicopee's preparations here.

Skybus

2007-06-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

I've been following skybus airlines since the summer of 2006. I live in Columbus, and this will be a place for me to update everyone on the growth and development of Skybus.