New discount airline: Skybus

[NoName]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/disp...1_K66FVA7.html

Skybus Airlines got off to a fast start during its first day of business yesterday, selling 60,000 one-way tickets by 5 p.m.

The Columbus airline, which will start flying May 22, is using a low-fare strategy that includes offering $10 fares for at least 10 seats on every flight. [...]

There will be more where that came from. At a news conference yesterday morning to officially announce routes and fares, Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer said the airline plans to add seven more routes from Columbus within the next several weeks, bringing the total to 15 routes before the end of the year.

By 5 p.m. yesterday, $10 fares had nearly disappeared for the summer months on routes to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Los Angeles and San Francisco. They had been replaced by fares of $40 to $100 each way, still less than it would cost to fly on other carriers. Routes such as Richmond, Va., and Kansas City still had plenty of $10 tickets available. [...]

The Skybus way of doing business will take some getting used to for those accustomed to traditional airline policies. The carrier is providing no phone numbers for bookings or customer service. Also, Skybus will charge $5 each for checked bags and $50 for those who bring a third suitcase.

Another point of discussion on Internet chat boards was Skybus' "no-outside-food" policy. The airline plans to make money by selling onboard refreshments, including bottled water and potato chips.

Sounds good ... if you're flying to Columbus, Ohio ... and you don't want to eat onboard.