You know, we really had some high hopes for start-up LCC Air Azul, but after they simply failed to start up and began the sputter into obscurity, we sighed with relief that we had held off buying our tickets.

The anxiety and confusion returns however, as the skeleton of Air Azul dances for us once again to the tune of a new name: JetAmerica. What's this? Has the ghost of Skybus past risen to again claim Ohio as a hub? The Cranky Flier thinks so, and we're inclined to agree seeing as how they'd be most likely to pay attention to cities like Toledo or Lansing.

Compounded with this is the fact that Skybus founder John Weikle had planned on branding his second try at an airline with the name "JetAmerica." Honey, we've got a tangled web of airline histories and mysteries here. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-05-11T11:03:59-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/18/7332/87521

You know we love Skybus, and even though it’s long gone, every once in a while a little tidbit trickles out from its former base in Columbus, Ohio. Nearly a year after its demise, it looks like the airline is finally settling things up with its former workers. They’ve agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that was filed by employees who were less than thrilled when they found out that their jobs were abruptly terminated.

The lawsuit alleged that Skybus violated the Workers’ Adjustment and Retraining Notice Act by not giving employees advance notice of at least 60 days. If the employees are anything like us—we found out by watching the Today show and throwing the remote across the room—they didn't get any warning.

The details are still being worked out in bankruptcy court—sounds exciting—so no specific settlement figure has been announced yet. The Columbus Regional Airport is trying to get some $5 million in change as well, and it looks like when everything is finalized, Skybus will be able to pay about 76 cents on the dollar to those who it left high and dry—guess that’s better than getting nothing.

Related Stories:
·Skybus To Settle Ex-Workers' Suit [Columbus Dispatch]
·2008's Most Missed Industry Casualty Is... [Jaunted]
·Airline Bankruptcy [Jaunted]

[Photo: msmail] ]]> kjb 2009-03-18T15:45:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/30/134124/23

We won't rehash the old cliche about making money in the airline biz, but 2008's most spectacular flame out was surely a sign of things to come: After taking home the 2007 Jaunty for Best Travel Newcomer--and even writing us a letter of thanks for the honor!--the ultra-ambitious, ultra-low cost Skybus folded in April, a little more than a month shy of its first birthday.

Meant to mimic the success of European LCCs, Skybus had the aggressive on-board sales, in-your-face advertising and out-of-the-way airports that have made Ryanair, EasyJet and legions of imitators successful. But a home base in Columbus, ever-rising fuel prices, poor public relations--particularly during a Christmas '07 storm--and the general difficulty of starting an airline from scratch killed the carrier before many had a chance to try it.

But spirit of the bygone airline still lurks. Beyond the Skybus Flickr pool, there's the potential new airline from LCC champion John Weikle and a new gig for former Skybus COO Ken Gile at Flydubai, a low-cost airline set to take off in 2009.

Related Stories:
· Skybus Shuts Down [Jaunted]
· Nobody Wants Skybus [Jaunted]
· The Diff: Taking Notes from Gary Kelly [Jaunted]

[Photo: msmail]]]> Jaunted 2008-12-30T14:30:39-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/13/113519/946

Newly appointed Flydubai COO Ken Gile plans to keep costs down at his new low cost carrier by hedging the cost of fuel, a strategy most notably used by perennially profitable Southwest Airlines--but not at Skybus, where he was president and COO until the carrier went bankrupt in April.

The specifics are still being worked out, says Gile:

We are focusing on implementing a successful hedging plan and Southwest Airline's hedging strategy is something we could look at. Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for any airline so we have to look at ways to control it in order to be able to offer the lowest fares in the region.

Flydubai also plans to lower costs by promoting electronic booking and keeping planes in the sky as much as possible, two strategies Skybus did use. Wonder if the new airline will have a call center?

Related Stories:
· Flydubai Plans to Use Fuel Hedging [Emirates Business]
· Post-Skybus Life: Ex-COO Tapped for Flydubai Gig [Jaunted]
· Skybus CEO "Respects" Southwest [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-13T11:50:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/5/13938/64779

New low cost carrier Flydubai will have a familiar face running the show: Former Skybus COO Kenneth Gile. He's been tapped to tackle the same job for the nascent airline, which hopes to be flying by summer of next year.

It won't be the first time in the Persian Gulf for Gile, as he started his commercial career with Saudi Arabian Airlines before joining Southwest, eventually become the Texas LCC's chief pilot and director of flight operations.

He's not the only Skybus refugee moving overseas, either, it seems. Marla Matzer Rose at the Columbus Dispatch reports that some of the defunct airline's pilots are now working in China. Maybe they'll get rated to fly those nifty new ARJ21s?

Related Stories:
· Flydubai Appoints New COO [Xpress]
· Ex-Skybus Prez Lands in Dubai [CD]
· Flydubai to Launch by 2009 [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-05T13:20:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/29/163330/723

While Bill Diffenderffer is ostensibly back to his writing career and other Skybus folks are sorting out a bankruptcy mess, the LCC's planes are being shipped overseas to other airlines that, you know, can afford to fly them.

One A319 ended up with Airblue, a newish Pakistani carrier that's looking to expand. Another is on the way to Air Jamaica, which will keep the all-economy configuration in place. Rossiya, a decently-sized Russian carrier is also planning to take delivery of an A319.

Here's hoping all these companies paint over that garish Skybus livery--or at least those punny ads.

Related Stories:
· Skybus' Old Planes Get Around [Columbus Dispatch]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: msmail]]]> pbb 2008-07-29T16:45:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/3/144810/9862

Tacky advertiser and low cost carrier Spirit Airlines may be laying off about half its in-flight staff. The airline notified union leaders this weekend, saying cuts are planned for August 1, though a final decision hasn't yet been made. Any accompanying route cuts haven't been announced either, but you've got to expect them.]]> pbb 2008-06-03T15:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/