Skybus shuts down, third carrier to close in recent days
© SkybusThe cascade of carriers closing shop continues. The latest casualty of high fuel prices and a slowing economy is discount airline Skybus. Friday, April 4, was the last day of operations. In recent days, discount airline ATA, and Aloha Airlines ceased passenger operations, also citing fuel costs.
In a prepared statement, Skybus said flyers should contact their credit card companies for a refund. For more information, the carrier is referring passengers to its Web site.
Discount airline JetBlue is offering Skybus customers and employees a special standby airfare of $50 for one-way travel. The fare will be good for any JetBlue destination within 100 miles of the original Skybus destination. For example, Skybus passengers who were booked to fly into Gary, Indiana (GYY) can fly to Chicago O'Hare (ORD), a JetBlue airport.
Skybus was one of the new breed of “unbundled” airlines, carriers that kept costs low by outsourcing certain key operations - such as heavy maintenance - and charging passengers for such “extras” as snacks and checked luggage. Skybus also tried to keep costs down by flying to alternate airports such as Gary. Its base was Columbus, Ohio.
The discount airline plans to file for bankruptcy protection.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
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