New Discount Airline to Fly in June

[CShine]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Fliers looking for low fares to the Washington area got another choice Wednesday when Independence Air began selling tickets. The airline will fly between Dulles International Airport and Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Newark, N.J., and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., beginning June 16. Thirty more destinations in the East and Midwest will be added this summer.

The company plans to compete with other low-cost carriers and also hopes to challenge major airlines with a schedule of flights that will allow as many as 1,400 connections a day to cities served from Dulles, 25 miles west of the nation's capital.

Kerry Skeen, the carrier's chairman and chief operating officer, estimated that 40 percent of his passengers will board a connecting flight and complete their travel at a cost of $99 to $175 each way. Independence Air has one-way fares as low as $39. Customers will have to book their flights online or call the airline directly.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA078OUFUD.html

[teryang]

1. This will do wonders for the ailing industry

...maybe it will push a couple into bankruptcy.

[mhr]

2. Just More Investor Capital That Will Soon Be Blowing In The Wind!

eom

[teryang]

3. Maybe they could squeeze several billion more

...out of Congress to pay back the banks before they really go under for good. Why they should be able to stave off bankruptcy with Congress' help for at least 12 more months.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. Independence Air is the new name for Atlantic Coast Airlines

I've been flying on ACA several times each month for years. They have been operating as United Express and Delta Connection under the United and Delta banners. Given that both United and Delta are in serious financial trouble, ACA has decided to operate under a new business model and a new name as a low-cost regional airline.

They currently offer great service, low operating costs on regional jets, and low ticket prices. It remains to be seen if they can convert these advantages into profits for their investors.

They are buying Airbus 319 jets to compete on coast-to-coast routes from Dulles airport.

I'm hoping they succeed.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. Sorry, I won't fly on Airbus aircraft.

I'd rather be jammed into an old 737 than just hop onto an Airbus. I still have some pride. And I hate old 737s.

[Puglover]

8. Why won't you fly the bus?

[Gold Metal Flake]

9. A foreign firm unfairly supported by massive gov't subsidies competing...

against Boeing's domestic aircraft business employing just a whole bunch of good American workers.

A recent segment on Lou Dobbs illuminated this. Guest was Senator Patty Murray (D Washington). Also on that show, a connection between Airbus interests and the RNC was revealed:

"Its American subsidiary, EADS North America recently hired the Washington lobbying firm, Quinn Gillespie, the firm founded by national committee chairman Ed Gillespie."

The Transcript:
http://robots.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0405/11/ldt.00.html

Now, I'm not gonna defend Boeing's excesses. Not at all. But I will defend our domestic workers in our domestic airliner industry.

[Puglover]

11. Thanks for the link AND the reply Goddess

n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. LOL! That's Godless...

You know, like Hedley!

[Puglover]

13. Oh duh!

<blushing> dyslexic person

:crazy:

[demdave]

6. How dare you throw pertinent facts into a group rant .

I hope they succeed also.

[eeyore]

7. Discount Airline?

That's one of those things that just doesn't sound like I want it - - like Reduced for Quick Sale Meat. I'm sure it's just as safe as the others, but where exactly are they cutting costs? Hmmm.....

[LastDemocratInSC]

10. Here's what I know about how they keep costs down

The contracts that major airlines have with their unions were (mostly) negotiated before deregulation, so they are locked into paying high salaries to their pilots, and others. Airlines such as Independence don't have this overhead. A first officer in a regional jet may make $35,000 and a captain might top out around $80,000. The average salary for a pilot at a major airline is about $120,000 and may top out around $200,000.

Regional jets are more efficient to operate on short routes, because of their lower fixed costs, than jets such as a 737 or MD-80. This is a significant savings.