Skybus Airlines
A new airline is taking to the skies with promises of $10 tickets and a no-frills service that makes even Southwest look regal by comparison.
Skybus said that every flight has at least 10 seats for the $10 fare. Other airlines have offered superlow fares, but only temporarily. Skybus, however, said the $10 fare is here to stay. “On every flight, there will be at least 10 seats for $10, said Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer. “That fare won’t go away.”
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There is no first-class on Skybus, and to speed up boarding, seats are not assigned. However, for an extra $10, the airline offers some passengers the privilege of boarding first. But you still have to climb the stairs. To save time and money, the airline boards passengers directly off the tarmac, avoiding costly airport gate charges.
You also have to pay extra for any checked luggage, and for any food or drinks you want to consume on the plane – you can’t bring your own.
Is this the new breed of low-cost carrier? With the airline industry going the way it is nowadays, I bet we’ll see more airlines move to this model of ala carte service, rather than all services provided with the ticket. It just might be what the industry needs to start making real money again.
