What I know about what’s up at JetAmerica
May 19th, 2009 at 04:45pm Thomas V. Bona
Nothing.
But here are some things that I don’t “know” but find interesting, culled from their not-yet-public Web site that’s hosted apparently at their Web developer’s domain (but because the site is not live, and still being worked on, and hasn’t been advertised by the airline, don’t assume everything on it is final):
- As an alert reader has pointed out, Rockford is no longer listed on the front page nor on the flight schedule page.
- But, if you try to book a flight, not only is Rockford an option, but you can even select dates for RFD-BWI and RFD-EWR. (Though, please, don’t book a flight until we’re sure they’re taking off!)
- They’ve yet to announce a new CEO, and they’ve downplayed supposed connections to Skybus, but if you check the news page, it says that coming soon is a head shot of John Weikle.Weikle, of course, was the founder of Skybus and, according to a LinkedIn page, is still “founder and CEO” of Jet America (though, there it’s two words so maybe it’s entirely a different airline and there are two John Wiekles and this is one big giant coincidence. Maybe).
By the way, it’s been eight days since I’ve gotten anything more than an email from the JetAmerica folks, and even longer since they’ve taken my calls.
Stay tuned.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
4 Comments Add your own
1. achilles | May 19th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Here’s what I know about them: they will fold within one year, like the vast majority of airlines who’ve come to RFD.
2. Sally Hanks | May 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Damn you’re good, Thomas.
3. rfdbusinessman | May 21st, 2009 at 4:31 pm
JetAmerica not off to the best start but I remain hopeful and optimistic. Right move to change the name. Air Azul was well intended but strange and confusing. In theory, flights from markets like RFD to NYC and Washington DC areas should work. Other markets like RFD in the eastern half of USA which are underserved but could work. My only other thought is could the aircraft be too big. Could 70 or 90 seat regional jets be the right size or are they too expensive to operate on routes like this ?
Thomas, remember Pan Am clipper connection ? This is what they should have been doing. Only problem was their management was likely the worst in the entire airline industry.
4. Sally Hanks | May 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I don’t think there is a viable market TOL-EWR. If you compare the O&D numbers to that of DTW’s, they would only achieve an 87% load factor on their absolute best day. A more practical estimation is 41%. MSP is even worse….even Northwest doesn’t have alot of O&D traffic DTW-MSP, and those are their hubs.
A bad day between RFD and EWR would have generated the same load factor as a practical day between TOL and EWR. The +/- 300 mile difference in air mileage TOL vs. RFD to EWR doesn’t justify TOL getting the service over RFD, unless the revenue guarantees are really the only thing they wanted, which is an extremely short term approach and not considerate in crafting a viable product.
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