Skybus to start flying May 20

[sunchaser]

They have a ton of guys that just can't wait to fly the Bus for a small salary. They stay at the Holiday Inn East, (now a water park too,) for the interview. Van driver was filling me in on the info he got from some of the guys interviewing. Sad

 

[Green]

There has got to be some way to shut this airline down....If every flightinfo.com member donated a couple hours of their time to the cause we could come up with something....Any ideas? I think we would all agree that this airline represents a huge threat to the profession....65k/year for a 319/320 captain....

 

[Clavin]

No jumpseats. Let them all live in Columbus.

 

[xpdriver]

Here's the article:

From Travel Weekly's website.

Skybus updates DOT on start date for 'ultra-low fare' service (03/27/2007)
By Andrew Compart

Skybus, the aspiring Columbus, Ohio-based carrier that has described itself as "ultra-low fare," told the Transportation Dept. that it "anticipates" starting service May 20, although it has not yet revealed the destinations it plans to serve.



Skybus also said it soon will ask the DOT for a waiver that will let it begin advertising and selling tickets before receiving its DOT certification.



Skybus already has its logo -- a stylized butterfly -- that can be seen on its homepage [www.skybus.com] alongside such marketing phrases as "It screams real low fares in a quiet butterfly kind of way," "The universal symbol for incredibly low airfares" and "Fly for the price of a tank of gas. Or less."



The carrier plans to launch all-coach service with A319 aircraft configured for 150 seats.


This airline differs from almost all startups in the last 20 years. They have an order for 65 A-319's. That is one of if not the largest startup order in history of LCC's. They have received millions of dollars in incentives and taxbreaks from the city of Columbus and the state of Ohio. I dont believe the intent is to bring people solely to CMH, but have an option for people to get to vacation destinations, west coast destinations, and business destinations direct.

AWA never had a true hub at CMH. They flew regional jets to the east coast, and mainline to PHX and LAS. Columbus is within 2 hours of 3 large cities, and 1 (DAY) medium sized city. One of those cities is the most expensive in the USA to fly out of.

Not saying it will work, but I believe it has a better chance then almost all of the others that have tried.

They call it ultra low fares to go along with their ultra low PAY and BENEFITS...Where do I sign up...

 

[Capt.Underpants]

I think we would all agree that this airline represents a huge threat to the profession....65k/year for a 319/320 captain....

I don't agree. The airline management is doing their job. Keeping costs to a minimum. The pilots willing to work for half the going rate are the threat. Is the airline to blame if pilots are willing to sell their souls to fly an airbus? They would be offering 130k/year if the rest of us professional pilots hadn't caved during the last few years.

I don't know. Who is the bigger fool? The man who used to make 300k/year in pay and benefits and now accepts 150k in exchange for his airlines survival, or the man willing to start out for half the current going rate hoping to work their way up? Do you think we would all be working under these ridiculous conditions if one major airline pilot group would have taken it on the chin for the profession? Would the rest of the airlines jumped right into bankruptcy asking for the same result?

I think most pilots are sissies. Yeah, thats right, I said sissies.

Never take another concession!

 

[Green]

If everybody donated say $5 on this board and we pooled it to buy a billboard in CMH proclaiming "skybus sucks" or something to that effect would we be breaking the law? Is there a creative way to give them terrible publicity without being criminally liable?

 

[Clyde]

I don't give 'em long.... Remember Legend?

Who??

 

[JetMonkey]

Yes, but they are flying mainly out of CMH, which was already tried by AWA years ago. Not enough traffic. Great college (OSU) and football/basketball team, but not a good place for a hub. Sorry. Not many people want to fly there for the weekend, except during football season.


Bye Bye--General Lee

I actualy agree with you about the traffic (amazing), but there's one very interesting fact about Columbus. 20% of the entire U.S. population is within a 300 mile radius of it.

 

[AA717driver]

I know a fair number of people are willing to drive from CVG and DAY to IND to get cheaper fares.

I still don't think it will take long for the other carriers to put the hurt on them. TC

 

[LJDRVR]

TWA hub, unsustainable, America West hub, same story, Skybus?

Who could be smart enough to make a bunch of money, yet dumb enough to invest it anywhere near an airline?