Comments on: Skybus shuts down abruptly, third scheduled U.S. airline to fold this week http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: Another all-business airline shuts down: R.I.P. Eos » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21631 Another all-business airline shuts down: R.I.P. Eos » Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:43:08 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21631 [...] today. Their homepage contains the now all-too-familiar declaration, as seen in the Maxjet and Skybus shutdowns, that future flights are [...] [...] today. Their homepage contains the now all-too-familiar declaration, as seen in the Maxjet and Skybus shutdowns, that future flights are [...]

]]> By: askmrlee http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21337 askmrlee Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:37:45 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21337 Mark, I agree that Columbus may not be a hub worthy airport compared to ATL or ORD, but it has more O&D than Cincinnati. 50% more. CVG has 4M annually, while CMH has just over 6M and that was before Skybus. The Delta hub in Cincinnati is merely a connection point and as we all know, the city pays the highest fares in the nation for its small city hub. Mark,

I agree that Columbus may not be a hub worthy airport compared to ATL or ORD, but it has more O&D than Cincinnati. 50% more. CVG has 4M annually, while CMH has just over 6M and that was before Skybus. The Delta hub in Cincinnati is merely a connection point and as we all know, the city pays the highest fares in the nation for its small city hub.

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21330 Mark Ashley Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:09:42 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21330 Jack, P.S. Who's Matt? ;) Mark Jack,

P.S. Who’s Matt? ;)

Mark

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21329 Mark Ashley Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:08:43 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21329 Jack, That's a really good question, and I don't have a great answer. I do know this: Ryanair, Europe's discount powerhouse, makes a bit of money on tickets that are never flown, and it collects money on fees (wheelchair fees, anyone?) that are mandatory. I recall a statistic that as many as 1/3 of tickets were never flown, as of a few years ago. People just buy tickets on the cheap when the sale begins, and if the plans don't work out, then so be it. Those tickets may be cheap, but they're pure profit for the airline. It wasn't ticket prices alone that killed Skybus, I'm convinced. Skybus failed, in large part, because it was flying to and from cities that really didn't need the service. Columbus, Ohio is not a hub-worthy airline. Sorry. Ryanair may fly to airports on the outskirts, but they're still flying to airports in densely populated areas. The bigger question is why there aren't MORE discount airlines in the US. JetBlue and Southwest aren't all that cheap. There really isn't a Ryanair or Easyjet equivalent here. And Skybus doesn't count. Jack,

That’s a really good question, and I don’t have a great answer.

I do know this: Ryanair, Europe’s discount powerhouse, makes a bit of money on tickets that are never flown, and it collects money on fees (wheelchair fees, anyone?) that are mandatory. I recall a statistic that as many as 1/3 of tickets were never flown, as of a few years ago. People just buy tickets on the cheap when the sale begins, and if the plans don’t work out, then so be it. Those tickets may be cheap, but they’re pure profit for the airline.

It wasn’t ticket prices alone that killed Skybus, I’m convinced. Skybus failed, in large part, because it was flying to and from cities that really didn’t need the service. Columbus, Ohio is not a hub-worthy airline. Sorry. Ryanair may fly to airports on the outskirts, but they’re still flying to airports in densely populated areas.

The bigger question is why there aren’t MORE discount airlines in the US. JetBlue and Southwest aren’t all that cheap. There really isn’t a Ryanair or Easyjet equivalent here. And Skybus doesn’t count.

]]> By: ltblunt http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21318 ltblunt Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:24:11 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21318 This completely sucks for the many folks who are stuck someplace unfamiliar. People are very vulnerable when traveling and it is a crime to take advantage of them. I hope that the executives over at Skybus end up before a Senate Hearing this fall! www.ihateskybus.com This completely sucks for the many folks who are stuck someplace unfamiliar. People are very vulnerable when traveling and it is a crime to take advantage of them. I hope that the executives over at Skybus end up before a Senate Hearing this fall!

http://www.ihateskybus.com

]]> By: Kara http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21293 Kara Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:22:35 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21293 Hello, My family of 3 flew to and from Wisconsin in Mid-March. We actually booked from GSO to CMH to Milwaukee and then returned the same way with an overnight scheduled layover with the in-laws. Outside of three go-arounds in Columbus on the first flight, we had a great experience. I was actually looking earlier this week to book another flight to Columbus in August . $25 and $35 respectively. BTW, for a family of 3 to fly to Milwaukee, we flew for under $400. Hello,
My family of 3 flew to and from Wisconsin in Mid-March. We actually booked from GSO to CMH to Milwaukee and then returned the same way with an overnight scheduled layover with the in-laws. Outside of three go-arounds in Columbus on the first flight, we had a great experience. I was actually looking earlier this week to book another flight to Columbus in August . $25 and $35 respectively. BTW, for a family of 3 to fly to Milwaukee, we flew for under $400.

]]> By: Andy http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21281 Andy Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:19:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21281 Too bad for Skybus... We flew them from GSO - GYY two weeks ago (Springbreak): 90% full to Gary and maybe 60% on the return leg. They arrived early on the ongoing flight but the return flight was a good 1 hour late. Very efficient in filling and preparing the plane. Pleasant and overall a good experience. We paid 400$ / 4 persons. 40-50% of O'Hare's price... I almost bought 4 new tickets with them... Too bad for Skybus… We flew them from GSO – GYY two weeks ago (Springbreak): 90% full to Gary and maybe 60% on the return leg. They arrived early on the ongoing flight but the return flight was a good 1 hour late. Very efficient in filling and preparing the plane. Pleasant and overall a good experience.

We paid 400$ / 4 persons. 40-50% of O’Hare’s price… I almost bought 4 new tickets with them…

]]> By: mps247 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21277 mps247 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:56:54 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21277 Jack, I think the staff at Malev may be quite offended to be told they work for a budget airline - they are Hungary's national carrier and part of the oneWorld alliance! Jack, I think the staff at Malev may be quite offended to be told they work for a budget airline – they are Hungary’s national carrier and part of the oneWorld alliance!

]]> By: Jack from eyeflare.com http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21272 Jack from eyeflare.com Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:39:50 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21272 Matt, How come so many US-based budget airlines are folding, while the European ones are profitable? In fact, I seem to discover new ones quite regularly, i.e. WizzAir, Malev, etc. What's so special about the American market that only Southwest seems to be able to survive the crunch? - Jack Matt,

How come so many US-based budget airlines are folding, while the European ones are profitable? In fact, I seem to discover new ones quite regularly, i.e. WizzAir, Malev, etc.

What’s so special about the American market that only Southwest seems to be able to survive the crunch?

- Jack

]]> By: Sheila http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21271 Sheila Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:26:05 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/05/skybus-shuts-down-abruptly-third-scheduled-us-airline-to-fold-this-week/#comment-21271 I agree that Hawaii was hit hard this week. I fear that inter-island flights will rise sharply. The Hawaii Superferry is one alternative for Oahu/Maui travel. The ferry has been in dry dock for a while, but will start operations again on Monday. (They weren't due to start operations again until the 22nd, but I speculate that they are trying to take advantage of the Aloha demise.) I'll be keeping my eye on inter-island prices. I agree that Hawaii was hit hard this week. I fear that inter-island flights will rise sharply. The Hawaii Superferry is one alternative for Oahu/Maui travel. The ferry has been in dry dock for a while, but will start operations again on Monday. (They weren’t due to start operations again until the 22nd, but I speculate that they are trying to take advantage of the Aloha demise.) I’ll be keeping my eye on inter-island prices.

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