Skybus was true to its word when it debuted at Stewart International Airport last week.
CEO Bill Diffenderfer announced Skybus”™ imminent arrival as Stewart”™s newest carrier during the Port Authority takeover ceremony Nov. 1. He also did what he said he would do: keep planes flying. No sooner did Skybus make its inaugural landing than it was back up in the air for a return flight to its home city.
Skybus”™ original hub is in Columbus, Ohio, where it flies to 15 cities and now includes the Hudson Valley on its agenda.
From Stewart, you can catch a flight to Columbus and then make your own connection to travel onward. Skybus”™ new hub is in Greensboro, N.C., in Piedmont Triad International Airport, and service to Greensboro is expected to begin Feb. 25. The no-frills airline offers $10 seats for the first 10 tickets sold per flight. With tax and airline fees, it comes out to be closer to $40 ”“ but still a cheap seat, no matter how you slice it.
The airline is not releasing statistics on how many people are using the service, but Diffenderfer pledged if business was steady he”™d increase service out of Stewart to other cities.
Skybus, which got off the ground in Ohio in 2005, has quickly built a following and bases its business model on “no frills.” The airline charges passengers extra for just about anything they request on the flight. One carry-on bag is permitted free of charge; any baggage checked is charged for. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis; if you want a better seat it will cost more. No food or drink is allowed on board unless it is for infants or people with medical conditions, severe food allergies or religious needs. There is no transfer of luggage once you get to Columbus. Passengers carry their luggage themselves and arrange their next connection if they need one out of the Columbus hub. It”™s an economical way to get around, however, if you are willing to take the extra time.
In order to keep fares “the lowest in the nation,” Skybus pays flight attendants $9 an hour, but sweetens the pot by splitting commissions among them according to how many passengers are on their particular flight. While their pilots also earn less than other airlines, their workday is shorter and there are no overnight stays. “We keep costs at a minimum in order to achieve maximum revenue and accommodate as many people as possible,” Diffenderfer said.
However, even Skybus isn”™t immune to the increase in fuel prices. If the price of oil stays in the $100 a barrel range, skywatchers expect to see Skybus raising prices, too.
Meanwhile, Stewart is busy courting other airlines, including those in the European marketplace, particularly England. While no agreements have been reached or announced, the Port Authority said it is aggressively seeking airlines for its newest addition.
