Skybus expands service to Westover

COLUMBUS, OHIO Skybus Airlines announced it will add nonstop service from Columbus to the Philadelphia area via Wilmington, Del., beginning March 7, and to Toronto via Niagara Falls, N.Y. beginning April 1.

Skybus will also add second daily nonstop flights to Richmond, Va., and Hartford/Springfield (via Westover Metropolitan Airport in Chicopee) beginning March 7 and to Milwaukee beginning April 1.

At the same time, Skybus announced it would begin service to Gary/Chicago International Airport and to Philadelphia, along with a second daily nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale from its base at Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina beginning March 13.

Tickets for the new service are now on sale.

"We're excited to add Philadelphia, Toronto and Chicago to our list of great destinations," said Bill Diffenderffer, Skybus CEO. "And we're excited to offer our passengers in these markets our unique combination of nonstop flights, less-congested airports and outrageously low fares."

With this announcement, Skybus will be serving 18 cities.

In keeping with its strategy of using only highly-efficient airports, Skybus' new service will operate from:

New Castle Airport in Wilmington, located about 35 miles from Philadelphia.

Niagara Falls International Airport, convenient to the attractions of the Niagara Frontier and just 85 miles from downtown Toronto.

Gary/Chicago International Airport, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago's famed Loop.

Skybus' pricing structure is designed to offer passengers the lowest fares available and then allow them to choose as many or as few add-ons as they like. Passengers have the option to check baggage, obtain priority boarding and purchase a wide range of food and beverages and gift items on board their flight. All fares are also subject to fees and taxes applied to all airline tickets by the federal government and local airports.

The Skybus Web site at www.skybus.com offers customers the ability to easily find the lowest fare available. Rather than being forced to search for flights on one given day, a unique "fare calendar" shows at a glance the lowest fare available for an entire month, allowing them to shop for a fare that suits their budget.

Skybus is able to keep its fares significantly below its competitors' fares by:

Using state-of-the-art technology to ensure high productivity.

Minimizing the time its aircraft are parked at gates or spending time taxiing on runways by using only highly efficient airports.

Flying all Airbus A319 full-size jets, one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in commercial service.

Providing customers with an informative, easy-to-navigate Web site that allows them to make and change reservations, rent cars, reserve hotel and resort accommodations and purchase admission to popular attractions without the need for an expensive call center.

Maximizing revenue through a variety of ways including onboard food, beverage and gift sales and advertising on both the inside and outside of Skybus' fleet.