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Skybus Airlines is a privately held airline (with plans to go public by 2009) based in Columbus, Ohio, USA. more...

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Skybus, an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair and the early years of Southwest Airlines, aims to be the least expensive airline in the United States. The business model is heavily reliant on opening new markets as Ryanair has done in Europe thus keeping competition to a minimum. The business model also includes advertising on the interior and exterior of its aircraft as well as selling merchandise onboard to increase revenue.

In January 2005, Skybus filed a proposal to the United States Department of Transportation to start operations from Port Columbus International Airport and received approval on March 15, 2006. The airline received FAA certification on May 10, 2007, though it was granted a waiver that allowed them to begin ticket sales on April 24^th. The first flights out of Columbus began on May 22, 2007.

History

What was to become Skybus was initially founded in the late 1990s by John Weikle and Ken Gile, the former Director of Operations for Southwest Airlines. This early venture went by the name of Heartland Airlines and planned to operate Boeing 717s out of Dayton, Ohio. Working with JP Morgan, the airline almost reached startup, but failed to raise the necessary capital and was eventually abandoned. Years later, the concept was resurrected, this time under the name of "Skybus Airlines". Taking advantage of America West Airlines pulling out as a hub of Columbus, they started gathering capital to start the airline in that city.

Destinations and prices

On April 24, 2007, Skybus Airlines announced their initial set of eight destinations, all of which originate from their hub at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus. At first Skybus operated a strict hub-and-spoke service, not booking flights between destination cities that were not Columbus, but the company recently announced it would begin flying direct flights from its Portsmouth destination to two locations in Florida. In addition, prices of tickets and details on extra fees were announced the same day. The low fares come at a price. There are charges for checking bags and for preferred seating. The airline also shuns jetways, using ground-level-boarding ramps and airstairs instead.

On July 24, 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Skybus the right to fly international flights to Cancún, Mexico and Nassau, Bahamas.

Read more at Wikipedia.org