Could Skybus work here?

Add comment December 5th, 2007

Ultra-low-cost airline Skybus seems like the kind of airline that could work at Chicago Rockford International Airport if Skybus wants a “Chicago” destination.

Right now, Skybus has two main destinations - Columbus and Greensboro, NC - that get flights from multiple cities. The Chicago area might make a good third one, and Skybus has shown it prefers smaller secondary airports away from the major hubs. For example:

• Its “New York” airport is Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, about 55 miles north of the city (and 70 miles from Midtown).
• Its “Boston” airport is Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, NH, 63 miles away.
• Its “Seattle/Vancouver” airport is Bellingham International Airport in Bellingham, Wash., 94 miles from Seattle and 49 miles from Vancouver.
• Its “New Orleans” airport is Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Gulfport, Miss., 77 miles away.
• Etc., etc. and so on.

Rockford is 85 miles from downtown Chicago but, more importantly, 71 miles from O’Hare International Airport and even closer to the western Chicago suburbs. There are 2.5 million people who live within an hour of the airport.
Some critics say RFD is too far from Chicago to draw much passenger service - this writer says “‘Chicago’ is a real stretch here” - but the airport isn’t aiming for people in downtown Chicago, it’s aiming for those in the western suburbs and southern Wisconsin who want an alternative to O’Hare.

With low-cost Allegiant Air already here, something like Skybus could help RFD become a Midway International Airport for the western suburbs. Not as big, but a magnet for airlines looking for a cheaper and easier entry into this region.

Skybus starts in Milwaukee

Add comment December 5th, 2007

Ultra-low-cost airline Skybus, known for one-way fares as low as $10, starts service between Milwaukee and its base in Columbus, Ohio, today. Right now, there are flights once a day from Milwaukee, leaving at 4:46 p.m. Fares tend to be around $25 each way (some midweek flights are $10, others cost more because of demand), plus a host of ancillary fees. Basically, Skybus is gunning for people who want to pay as little as they can for bare-bones service, with additional fees for additional services, such as checked baggage, food/beverage, a chance to board first to choose your seat. If you don’t use it, you don’t pay for it.

There’s no connecting service. If you want to go beyond Columbus, you have to book a second trip from there to your final destination, and good luck finding a flight leaving after the Milwaukee flight gets in. Really, this is if you want to get to Ohio on the cheap.

So my question is, do any of you readers plan to use Skybus? What are your thoughts on its model? Let me know.