On Apr 4, 11:06=A0pm, "Reality_Check=A9" <Real...@Check.it> wrote:
Skybus becomes third airline this week to close
=A0 a.. Low-cost carrier cites high price of jet fuel
=A0 b.. ATA and Aloha also closing after bankruptcy filings
=A0 c.. Skybus says passengers can seek refunds from credit card firms
(CNN) -- Skybus Airlines announced Friday it is shutting down its passenge=
r
flights -- becoming the third airline this week to cease operations.
The low-cost carrier couldn't overcome "the combination of rising jet fuel=
costs and a slowing economic environment," the company said Friday. "These=
two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier."
Skybus, an Ohio-based airline founded in 2004, will cease operations
effective Saturday.
Earlier in the week, ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines announced they would
shut down flights as both companies work through bankruptcy filings.
ATA, an Indiana-based low-cost charter airline, filed for Chapter 11 statu=
s
Wednesday as a result of financial problems "following the loss of a key
contract for our military charter business," the company said. The company=
started operation in 1973.
Hawaii-based Aloha Airlines announced Sunday it would shut down its
passenger operations this week after filing for bankruptcy protections las=
t
month, concluding 61 years of service.
In its bankruptcy filing, Aloha said it was unable to generate enough
revenue from its inter-island passenger flights because of below-cost fare=
s
by competitors Mesa Air Group's go! airline. The company said it was force=
d
to match the competitor's fares during an unprecedented increase in the co=
st
of jet fuel.
Well, that's good!!!! Since that's how just about how ALL US
Airlines
have operated since 1920, with below-cost fairs. Subsidized by
you-know-who, your wanks in Congress.
Which is largely where Real-Time Computers, Digital, Artificial
Intelligence,
Satellites, GPS, Internet, Fiber Optics, Lasers, Laser-Disks, the
break-up of AT&T,
and Robots even came from to begin with.
Skybus said all flights Friday would be completed; passengers with
reservations for Saturday and beyond were told to seek refunds from their
credit card companies.
