5/13/2008 at 10:30 AM
Tags: Virgin America, LCCs, Low Cost Carriers, New Routes, ORD, David Cush, Jaunted Interviews (all tags)
A Jaunted Exclusive
Virgin America will ask the FAA for a share of the Chicago market this week, and if all goes well, VA will be flying to O'Hare by November.
After Virgin confirmed the expansion plans, we were excited to talk with CEO David Cush, posing here with Cisco Adler, about the future of the airline, how the FAA allocates landing rights and what it's like to compete with a former employer.
Jaunted: We've been hearing rumors about Chicago for months. Why make the move into that new market now?
DC: You're not an airline until you fly to Chicago. We want to fly four flights a day from LAX and SFO to ORD because this is third largest travel market in the US and we think Chicagoans are going to love our product.
Currently, Chicago/O'Hare has virtually no low-fare competition to the West Coast and none from SFO or LAX. We think we can compete with the big guys and inject a little healthy competition into a market that desperately needs it.
MORE...
by pbb
5/12/2008 at 8:35 AM
Tags: Virgin America, LCCs, Low Cost Carriers, New Routes, ORD (all tags)
Virgin America will petition the FAA for eight daily arrival slots into Chicago O'Hare this week. The agency, which controls the number of flights allowed at ORD, could give the upstart approval to fly as early as November, when a new runway opens.
That means this winter is the soonest we'd see SFO-ORD and LAX-ORD flights on VA. Not really what we were expecting when CEO David Cush hinted at service to Chicago, but it's the best the carrier can do given the current flight caps.
Maybe while we're waiting for Chicago, VA's will expand to Boston and Miami? Last we heard, those announcements could come by the end of this summer.
Related Stories:
· What's Next for Virgin America [Jaunted]
· Virgin America is Flying High [Jaunted]
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]
· New Routes coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
4/14/2008 at 11:00 AM
Tags: Virgin America, New Routes, Airlines (all tags)
Cisco Adler's favorite carrier, Virgin America, doesn't need any of your sissy airline bankruptcies. With a fresh $100 million in the bank from investors and plenty of expansions planned, VA isn't worried about a potential shutdown.
That said, things are still tough for the newcomer. VA flights are less full than the industry average in the States, which is nice for passengers but tough on the bottom line. And high fuel costs are of course a factor. (Maybe that's why the airline has just added a second-checked-bag fee, like so many other carriers have done recently?)
If Virgin America can get back to expanding its network, it'll help the airline on the path to profitability. While flight caps in the New York area--at both JFK and EWR--are hurting the airline, the overall industry slowdown is a blessing in disguise says CEO David Cush. As other airlines cut back on service, VA hopes to swoop in and pick up some landing slots.
Where? The usual suspects: Chicago, Boston and Miami.
Related Stories:
· Virgin America Investors to Inject $100 Million [WSJ]
· Virgin Says New US Rules Hurt Competition at Newark [AP, via IHT]
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
4/01/2008 at 9:46 AM
Tags: Skybus, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, New Routes (all tags)
The Diff may be gone, but Skybus is moving on. According to TheAirDB, the carrier plans to turn Portsmouth into its newest focus city, and will start flying to the Turks and Caicos sometime this summer.
Also planned are new flights to Austin, Kansas City, "New Orleans" and "Chicago." Skybus will make a short hop between Portsmouth and Wilmington, Delaware, too, which is reminiscent of the new PSM-Stewart shuttle service.
A Skybus spokesman denied the rumors this morning:
What I can confirm for you is that there is absolutely nothing to this.
It is April Fool's Day. But since this news isn't really funny--and seems totally possible--we're inclined to believe it, official denial notwithstanding.
Update: We just heard more from that Skybus spokesman:
I can absolutely tell you that Skybus has no press conference scheduled (for today or any other day in the foreseeable future), no announcements scheduled, and the folks at Portsmouth tell me they have no announcements scheduled, either.
It's going to be a long April Fool's Day.
Related Stories:
· New Skybus Routes [TheAirDB]
· Bill Diffenderffer Out at Skybus [Jaunted]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: msmail]
by pbb
3/31/2008 at 8:38 AM
Tags: V Australia, Airlines, New Routes, Fare Wars, Richard Branson (all tags)
Last week we asked, "Is V Australia about to officially announce LAX-SYD service at a press conference?" Turns out, yes. The newest carrier from Richard Branson will go wheels up on December 15, 2008.
The super-cheap promo fares for the first few days are already sold out, but you can still get some incredible deals in December. We found a round trip for $1,747, while Kayak reports the cheapest non-stop Qantas fare for the same dates is $2,582.
In addition to great fares, V Australia has also released cabin details. In coach, seat pitch is 32 inches with a recline of 6 inches, and every seat will have a 9-inch screen for on-demand in-flight entertainment. And if you need or want to stay online, the airline's 777s will have cell phone connectivity, letting you SMS and browse the Internet on your GSM device. What, no in-flight WiFi?
Related Stories:
· Virgin Launches Flights between Sydney and Los Angeles [AP, via IHT]
· V Australia Cabin Details [Official Site]
· Calculated Speculation: V Australia Edition [Jaunted]
· V Australia coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
3/19/2008 at 8:35 AM
Tags: Skybus, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, New Routes (all tags)
Ultra LCC Skybus officially announced its new schedule today, and the carrier's now booking tickets through September 2. Just don't try to fly to Niagara Falls or Chattanooga: Service to both cities has been cut.
Out of Columbus, Skybus has also cut frequencies to Milwaukee, "New York" and "Hartford," Connecticut. Similar flight cuts are happening at Piedmont Triad, where service to "New Orleans" will stop, and the airline will only fly once a day to "Chicago," "Philadelphia" and Fort Meyers.
If you're stuck holding a canceled ticket, your options are to rebook, if possible, or get a refund from the airline. (Skybus says it's emailing affected passengers.)
But it's not all bad news for cheapskate flyers. With these service cuts, Skybus will be able to expand service to Florida. We could still find plenty of $10 seats between St. Augustine and both Richmond, Virginia and Connecticut this morning.
Related Stories:
· Skybus [Official Site]
· Skybus Adjusts Flight Schedule [Columbus Dispatch]
· Skybus to Cut PTI Flights [News & Record]
· Skybus Launching More Florida Service [Jaunted]
by pbb
3/17/2008 at 10:53 AM
Tags: Skybus, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, Bill Diffenderffer, New Routes (all tags)
Just a couple days after Skybus announced it would be slowing its growth and focusing on more profitable routes, we hear the ultra LCC will start "Boston" to "New York" service. The airline will also add three new flights to Florida.
The Skybus shuttle flights will leave out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and arrive in Newburg, New York, a decent haul from Manhattan. Still, you're not gonna catch a flight between Logan and JFK for $10 on any of the legacy carriers.
As for beefing up its Florida offerings, Skybus is adding a flight out of Richmond, Virginia to St. Augustine. Another non-focus city, Springfield, Massachusetts, will also add two Florida destinations soon. Looks like CEO Bill Diffenderffer really meant what he said:
We like Florida.
Related Stories:
· Skybus: New Routes [TheAirDB]
· Skybus Not Planning Anything Stupid [Jaunted]
· Skybus Throttles Back on Growth [Columbus Dispatch]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: msmail]
by pbb
3/17/2008 at 10:02 AM
Tags: New Routes, New Airlines, Porter Airlines, YTZ (all tags)
We're having some trouble slapping a label on nascent Canadian carrier Porter Airlines. The company's turboprops will soon be flying between Toronto's City Centre Airport and Newark International, just outside New York City.
What's so confusing about the carrier? While restricted fares are low, you can also get fully refundable tickets. The airline offers a lounge-like setting at its hub in Toronto--complete with free WiFi, snacks and drinks--but it doesn't do the same at its destination airports. And perhaps most notably, it only flies turboprop aircraft.
So is it a low cost carrier? Not exactly. Officials say they aren't trying to beat competitors on price, and a quick Kayak search shows they aren't the rock-bottom cheapest for Toronto-NYC flights. Is it a shuttle service like the one between Boston and New York? Not exactly, since it's flying internationally and with less frequency.
One thing's for sure. While some of us don't mind flying on Dash 8 props, we know plenty of people who hate planes without jet engines. And where's the in-flight entertainment? It's a short-haul flight, sure, but a little live TV never hurt anyone.
Related Stories:
· Porter Airlines [Official Site]
· Canadian Carrier Readies New York Debut [AP, via Houston Chronicle]
· New Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: abdallahh]
by pbb
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