Skybus goes bankrupt!

by Grant Martin on

Skybus just announced that they’re ceasing all operations and have declared bankruptcy. According to their website, they’ll continue to close out flights today, but after that all bets are off. Being as it’s 11:30 at the time of writing, I think that it’s safe to say nobody else will be flying Skybus.

According to the new modified website “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.”

At the fall of ATA earlier this week I know that I was complaining about high oil prices and the competition that pushed the budget carrier of 35 years out of business. But I didn’t expect the woes to be so widespread. I would now speculate about other carriers but don’t want to jinx anyone.

We’ll keep you updated on what happens on this surprising news.

Alitalia deal dumped by Air France-KLM

by Iva Skoch on

For a while there, it almost looked like Air France–KLM was actually going to buy Alitalia and dig them out of their ongoing financial problems. Alitalia has been losing $1.6 million a day for more than a year. Grant wrote about the KLM-Alitalia deal just a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately, Air France-KLM ended their negotiations with Aitalia after Alitalia’s unions balked, The Wall Street Journal reports. As a result, the Italian airline’s chairman resigned.

You could just see how this whole thing unfolded in Italy. Silvio Berlusconi, currently campaigning to become Italy’s eccentric prime minister again, thought that KLM was just not offering enough for the national pride that Alitalia is. Looking at it through KLM’s eyes, they could care less about national pride; they wanted a good investment.

Well, if Berlusconi does get reelected, one of the first things he might have to do is place Alitalia under a government-appointed organization. Air Silvio, anyone?

Airline to charge $35 for customer service

by Aaron Hotfelder on

These days, airlines are finding more and more ways to charge passengers for things they’ve long received for free– headphones, food and drink, a second checked bag. Now you can add decent customer service to that list.

Air Canada began offering a service (ha!) yesterday called “On My Way,” in which passengers can pay an extra $25 on shorter flights and $35 on longer flights, and in exchange they will receive “‘speedy’ access to ‘specially-trained’ customer service agents who will help rebook flights on Air Canada or other airlines, as well as pay for hotel stays and meals, if necessary.”

As someone who occasionally writes about airlines, I am now required by law to mention that the rising cost of jet fuel is to blame for this ill-conceived insult to every passenger’s dignity.

[via Boing Boing]

What strange things have been found on planes?


Click the image to read the bizarre story…

“Honored” American Airlines flight attendant rejects award, complains about management

by Grant Martin on

A recent American Airlines award ceremony honoring a flight attendant backfired this week when the woman took the stage, rejected the award and went on to complain about management, maintenance and operations at the airline. She complained for over fifteen minutes as presenters and attendees looked on in horror. Check out this MSNBC video as she tries to explain her actions.

Completely inappropriate or a good time to be heard?

Naomi Campbell flips out in Heathrow Terminal 5, gets arrested

by Grant Martin on

I guess even celebrities are not immune to baggage problems and stressing out at Heathrow. Apparently supermodel Naomi Campbell was arrested yesterday after causing a ruckus when she misplaced one of her pieces of luggage. She insisted on the airline finding it immediately and when they offered to forward it along to prevent the plane from leaving late she caused a scene.

When the police were called in to manage the dispute, Campbell flew completely off the handle and assaulted the police officer, which, apparently is against the law. She was thus subdued, handcuffed and removed from the plane along with her entire entourage of Campbellites.

If Google serves me right, this isn’t the first time that Ms. Campbell has been in trouble for violent behavior. Victims include but are not limited to her nanny, her drug counselor and her assistant, with the total number of claims against her now up to eight.

Wouldn’t you know it, attacking people doesn’t seem to help the situation when you’ve lost your bags. Take a lesson from Naomi Campbell and stay calm next time they’re misplaced.