Columbus based Skybus Airlines is history. Skybus is one of four airlines in the United States that went out of business in the past week according to aviation and travel sites. Skybus was only ten months old. It started flying out of Port Columbus in May 2007. A 2006 article in the Columbus Dispatch said the plan was for the airline to start operating in the fall of 2006.
Skybus Airlines announced they were going out of business on Friday April, 4, 2008 with that being the final day of business. The death of Skybus left people stranded all over the United States.
The Skybus website said:
"Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective Saturday, April 5. Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.
We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our employees and their families, customers, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.
Passengers holding reservations for Skybus flights scheduled to depart on or after Saturday, April 5, 2008 should contact their credit card companies to arrange to apply for a refund. More information for customers and others will be made available on the Skybus web site (www.skybus.com) as it becomes available.
All flights for Friday, April 4 will be completed. Passengers holding reservations on flights for Friday, April 4 should check in for their flight at a Skybus kiosk at the airport instead of the Skybus website. "
Skybus was the idea of John Weikle. Skybus sold the first ten seats on each flight for 10 dollars. Many of the airports that Skybus flew to were smaller airports. Many in the airline industry said the Skybus business model was a dumb idea from the beginning and that the discount airline would fail.
Some tough breaks in scheduling, weather and maintenance at Christmas time got Skybus Airlines in the news. The company was operated without a phone number for customer service.
Skybus Airlines was started with seed money from a number of Central Ohio businesses.
Bill Diffenderffer was the CEO of Skybus until March 24, 2008. He was not replaced.
Skybus Airlines is expected to file bankruptcy on Monday April 7, 2008 according to newspapers and aviation experts.
