Skybus Announces Nonstop Service From New Base at Piedmont Triad International Airport

GREENSBORO , WINSTON-SALEM and HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Skybus Airlines - the "next generation" of low-fare carriers - will launch its newly-announced base at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) in January and February with daily flights to seven new destinations and additional service to Columbus.

Reservations go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 23 , at 6 a.m. (EDT ) exclusively at www.skybus.com. Skybus offers 10 seats at $10* on every flight, with other seats available at Skybus' outrageously low prices. All Skybus flights operate on full-size Airbus A319 jets.

Skybus will link the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point area with Florida, Gulf Coast, East Coast and West Coast markets.

Skybus will initially base two aircraft at PTI, adding a third in February. Skybus will also establish a maintenance facility at the airport, and will base pilots and flight attendants in the Piedmont Triad.

"We think travelers from the Piedmont Triad region and throughout North Carolina are going to be attracted to our outrageously low fares and our great destinations," said Bill Diffenderffer, Skybus CEO, at a news conference with state and local government and business officials at PTI. "The response to our initial service from PTI to our home in Columbus has been beyond all of our expectations, and we're excited to begin offering direct service from the Piedmont Triad region to cities throughout the country.

"We know travelers are looking for really low fares and nonstop flights, and we believe our pricing structure will not only attract current flyers, but open up the market to many others who now find air travel simply too expensive," Diffenderffer said. "Our strategy is to 'decomplexify' airline operations in ways that keep costs down while making flying as simple and convenient as possible for passengers."

"We are delighted that Skybus has chosen the Piedmont Triad and its airport ( Greensboro ) for its second base of operations," said Henry Isaacson , chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority. "We welcome the innovative thinking the company represents, the jobs the company will bring to the region, and the airline's investment in our community. Most of all we welcome the additional low-fare, non-stop air service that Skybus will bring to our region as well as the entire state of North Carolina."

As the first phase of building its employment in the area, Skybus will hold an open interview session for flight attendant positions on Wednesday ( Oct. 24 ) at the Airport Marriott Hotel, 1 Marriott Dr. in Greensboro . Applicants must arrive no later than 9 a.m. and be prepared to stay as late as 4:30 p.m.

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:

About Skybus:

Skybus, the next generation of low-fare airlines, provides nonstop service on full-size jets from its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, to cities throughout the United States . Beginning in January, 2008, Skybus will also operate nonstop service from its second base at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, NC. Skybus offers outrageously low fares - starting with at least 10 seats at $10 on every flight. Reservations and more information about Skybus are available at www.skybus.com.