Skybus Shutdown Caps Off What Has Been The One Of The Worst Weeks In US Aviation History.

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Related: “Aloha, Aloha”
“Another One (ATA) Bites The Dust”

“How do you become a millionaire? Begin as a billionaire, then go into the airline business.”
-Richard Branson (You can find many variations of this truism online)

Skybus ceased operations on Saturday, finishing an unglorious week for aviation in which an unprecedented 3 US airlines with published schedules went out of business.

With fares like this, it’s easy to see how they burned through $160 million in startup funding in under a year of flying:

I was quite proud of myself when I nailed 7 RT tickets at that price for my pittsburgh cousins. (C’mon you would also drive a couple hours to save that kind of money!) Unfortunately it doesn’t help much when they close down less than 2 weeks before the flight…At least it was bought on a Starwood AMEX, looks like it’s time for a chargeback! (Little consolation at that price…)

Free advice to new airline startups:

1. Don’t name your airline after something with as negative a connotation as “bus.” The last thing air travelers want to fly on is something related to Greyhound; Stay classy. (What’s next SkySubway?)

2. Don’t form your business plan based on $40 oil, because those days aren’t coming back anytime in the near-future.

Coming soon: $100+ oil means bad times for US aviation, but especially for LCC’s (low-cost carriers) -so who’s next to go bust?

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12 Comments On "Skybus Shutdown Caps Off What Has Been The One Of The Worst Weeks In US Aviation History."

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

S.B.S.

4 Airlines stopped flying this week, and one announced that it is shutting down in may.

I think that Spirit Airlines is next, followed by ExpressJet and that new Toronto airline.

Shmuel munkis

they should have picked a more buiser place to make their place not columbus

e.g studios

To add insult to injury, Continental just joined United and Useless Airways in announcing their own $25 fee for a 2nd checked bag. So long to the days of free baggage! This really has been a bummer week in aviation

Dan/Ctownbochur

Every non-LCC is adding the $25 fee. I’m just waiting for the dust to settle to make a full roundup.

Levi

Whats with spirit? I use it bi-monthly… Any info?

K

How does a chargeback work for AMEX? If I purchased tickets over 90 days ago- and the airline goes bankrupt….can I do a chargeback with a starwood card?

How do I go about doing a chargeback?

c

i wouldnt call jetblue an LCC anymore their flights are consistently higher than american or delta.

Dan/Ctownbochur

LCC stands for low-cost carrier, not low-fare carrier.

It is a term used by the US department of transportation to refer to those airlines that have a low-cost structure.

Jack Squat

how about a new classification for airlines, LVC = low value carrier, and in order to be classified as such, you need to have the Nickel/Dime pricing structure in place ( ie. no free food onboard, no free baggage, nothing free, in fact the price you are paying for is JUST FOR THE RIGHT TO Board the plane & FLY, AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THAT AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION.

A second qualification to be a LVC is, you must charge surcharges for overweight passengers as well as baggages and not discriminate by just charging overweight baggages.

aj

hey Jack i agree with you, i gotta give it to you for the LVC idea, and maybe the airlines should charge for carry-on’s next.

Dan/Ctownbochur

Spirit calls themselves a ULCC, or ultra-low-cost carrier.
They pretty much only give you the right to board the flight.

Nwa flyer

Northwest has also added the $25 fee effective may 5th as stated on the bottom of my confirmation email.

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