Could Skybus work here?

December 5th, 2007 at 10:24am Thomas V. Bona

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.

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